Temperature Insights for Higher Yields in the Glass Industry

BASF's patented technology enables new temperature-measurement applications that haven't been practical before. Now the glass industry can measure yield-critical points in the process, to gain new insights to optimize their operations and achieve higher yields and profitability.

Gob Temperature Measurement
BASF Exactus® Optical Thermometers provide critical glass gob information, measuring temperature along the falling gob's entire length, and outputting an average reading. Exactus thermometers can also identify changes in gob length and indicate when one gob falls sooner than another. This provides deeper insight into what is occurring in the gob-forming process, and can help decrease downtime and speed changeovers, as well as improve yield and profitability.

Forehearth Temperature Measurement
Precise, sustainable forehearth temperature measurement has long challenged the glass industry's efforts to improve process control. Heavy, sturdy thermocouple construction can provide accurate and long-lasting operation in this environment, but additional weight also means additional cost.   BASF has developed proprietary components in its temperature-sensing technologies that help customers reduce precious metal costs, while optimizing longevity and preserving measurement accuracy.

Fiberglass Spinner Disk Temperature Measurement
With measurement speed of up to 2000 high-resolution digital temperatures per second, Exactus thermometers provide new insights into spinner disk temperatures.  Operators use this data for signal monitoring or closed-loop control of the spinner disk temperature. The thermometers can easily detect changes that occur as the spinner disk approaches end-of-life, taking the guesswork out of disk replacement.

Fiberglass Stream Temperature Measurement
With their very low drift-specifications, Exactus thermometers also provide extremely reproducible measurements for controlling glass stream temperatures. These very precise measurements (better than 2°C with known emissivity) enable early identification of cullet glass contamination.

Fiberglass Bushing Temperature Measurement
Exactus thermometers can detect temperature changes as small as 0.001°C, and are designed to drift only 0.10°C per year and 0.05°C per °C change in ambient temperature. This combination of high resolution and minimal drift can help structural fiberglass makers dramatically reduce variability in glass fiber diameter.

Crown Temperature Measurement
Using proprietary material on the thermocouple sheath, BASF has significantly increased the longevity of its crown thermocouples. Thermocouple life has doubled in some situations, improving process efficiency for glass manufacturers.

We are proud to help our customers in the glass industry become even more successful.

Exactus is a registered trademark for which BASF Catalysts LLC has rights.