O-I’s Jan Schep was the recipient of this year’s Hotbels BTU award.
The award recognises those individuals who have contributed significantly to the education of the glass industry and to the Hotbels seminars.
Mr Schep is currently the Global Melting Strategy and Integration Leader for O-I in Perrysburg, Ohio, USA.
A video of his acceptance speech is available below:
At O-I Jan’s team is leading the global technology networks in Mechanical, Electrical and Process Control and furnace Refractories and Steel for the melting group.
His team is developing standards, design fundamentals and finding, developing and implementing new technologies for melting to optimise cost and support the sustainability objectives of the company.
Jan has 33 years of glass industry experience, starting in batch and furnace in the Schiedam plant in the Netherlands, holding positions in engineering, operations, glass science and project management over the years, completing numerous projects in every aspect of the container glass manufacturing process.
The 37th annual Hotbels seminar took place in Lexington, KY, USA last week.
It is a forum for glassmakers where engineering solutions and innovations are presented by industry experts. It is organised by two companies, Hotwork and Fosbel.
This year 11 speakers discussed papers related to the hot end of glass manufacturing and included papers from glass manufacturers including Gallo Glass, O-I and Owens Corning as well as technical suppliers to the industry such as Land Ametek, Simpson Combustion and HWI.
The seminar culminated with a trip to the Keeneland Park Racetrack.
Previous recipients of the Hotbels BTU award are Neil Simpson in 2023, Chuck Mace of Ardagh in 2022 and Brian Naveken, of TECO, in 2019.
The seminar’s website is here