As a leading industrial gas manufacturer, we see it as our responsibility to help our customers to boost productivity through technological innovation, cut costs, improve product quality and reduce harmful emissions. As one of our important target markets, the glass industry benefits from our process enhancements. Over the past fiscal year, for example, we pushed sales of the BOC-developed CGM^TM (Advanced Glass Melting) technology, designed to optimise furnace technology and efficiency. Linde brings this innovative technology to the glass industry based on a license agreement concluded with BOC in 2004. To date, BOC and Linde have installed CGM^TM melting systems at over 35 furnaces worldwide across all segments (including float, container, specialty and fibre glass).

The CGM^TM solution is the first to position burners in the crown of the furnace melter. These apply oxy-fuel flames directly to the batch, melting glass faster than exclusively horizontal firing. The benefits of this method include improved glass quality and increased production capacity.

In 2006, we licensed our CGM^TM technology to a glass engineering company for the first time. Our agreement enables the French company Stein Heurtey SA, one of the largest global suppliers of glass melting and manufacturing equipment, to integrate the CGM^TM solution in its furnaces.

Increasing glass quality, reducing energy costs
Although attention has focused on ways of reducing the energy costs involved in glass melting for many years, little progress had been made in this area to date. To answer growing needs in this area, Linde has now developed a solution that not only reduces costs, but also helps improve glass quality: the HYFINE^TM system. This involves injecting oxygen and hydrogen simultaneously into the molten glass, where they react to form water. Hot water vapour bubbles form and rise to the surface, setting the melt in motion. This results in further mixing, expels unwanted gases and dissolves residual quartz grains. Injecting the oxygen and hydrogen mixture also improves thermal efficiency by transferring heat more effectively into the melt – a key factor in cutting energy costs.

Innovative CGM^TM technology for the glass industry

Pioneering glass production // Linde’s new CGM^TM (Advanced Glass Melting) technology optimises efficiency, cost-effectiveness and glass quality in furnaces. This solution is the first to position burners in the crown of the furnace melter, applying oxy-fuel flames directly to the batch. This melts the glass faster than conventional horizontal firing. CGM^TM was developed by BOC and has been marketed by Linde since 2004, based on a license agreement concluded with BOC.

Internet service // In cooperation with OGIS GmbH, we developed a new software solution, Online Glass Engineering, available under the “Engineering” link at the www.glassglobal.com portal. This software helps glass players optimise processes and meet the challenges of mounting energy costs, stricter environmental requirements and growing international competition. This online glass engineering tool is a complete, one-stop solution, regularly updated and expanded free of charge. All data and enquiries are fully encrypted before transmission for maximum confidentiality.