Trends in automotive glass processing
The automobile industry is continually moving quickly, with more and more interesting trends emerging every year. This blog article examines current changes in the windshield and sunroof industries and offers advice on how glass processors may get ready for them.
The engines of the automobile industry never stopped, and buses and light cars are resurrecting. Additionally, a number of novel developments in automobile glazing have been spawned by the particular issues of today.
In summary, it is evident that glass is becoming larger, thinner, and more sophisticated, which presents additional difficulties for those who handle it. Therefore, today the trend is to use automation systems in industrial production, especially in the field of glass processing.
To begin with, the glass unit’s technological integration is becoming better. For instance, cameras, rain detectors, and other sensors are increasingly found in windshields; all of these devices must be concealed. As a result, the screen-printed regions get bigger and bigger. In sunroofs, the screen-printed area can constitute up to 50%.
The glass utilized in the automobile industry is growing thinner as well as larger at the same time. The global need to reduce glass weight in order to reduce CO2 emissions is driving the trend toward thinner glass. Cars that run on batteries have a greater range thanks to thinner glass. For any glass processor, the combination of bigger glass and thinner glass is a formidable task.
Last but not least is the need to use coated glass more frequently. Typically, this refers to the sunroof business, but we are also seeing it in the windshield segment. Although this is not the most popular trend, we believe that glass manufacturers need to prepare for this glass processing trend to gain momentum in the future.
Are you equipped to keep up with glass processing trends?
Modern technologies can assist automobile glass processors in staying current with emerging trends.
Can your glass manufacturing machinery satisfy the strictest requirements for quality? Can it handle the most complicated glass that the industry demands today?
When preprocessing automobile glass, unique bottlenecks are created as the glass grows thinner. More caution in cell setup is needed during the procedure to prevent them.
This requires the use of smaller cutting wheels, reducing cutting and breaking pressures, and providing more stability during glass processing, cutting and punching in addition to grinding. Slower handling equipment speeds are something to take into account during the pre-treatment phase, especially when lifting and accelerating. Finally, to avoid glass breakage, all places that come into contact with the glass must have smooth surfaces and sturdy supports.
For accurate control of low cutting pressures, fine, adjustable cutting and breaking tools should be part of the equipment needed for preparing thin automobile glass nowadays. an optimized coolant supply for minimal deflection of thin glass and excellent edging is another useful tool to take into account.
Glass with vast screen-printed regions or any other factors that complicate glass processing can be processed using heat treatment if the furnace control matrix permits concentrating heat on even the tiniest zones.
Make sure your furnace can run glass up to 2,600 x 1,700 mm in order to fulfill the growing requirements for automotive glass sizes.
Most importantly, pay attention to convection.
See more: Robotnext
Why convection?
There is always a temperature difference between clean and screen-printed or digitally printed areas when using traditional heating technologies like radiation. This is because radiation is absorbed by printing more than by clear glass.
However, convection heats the appliance uniformly throughout. This also holds true for coated glass.
Convection also makes it possible for glass to heat more quickly. We have a longer window for glass shaping with a faster preheating cycle, which improves shaping capabilities and overall process repeatability.
Trends in the auto industry are always changing. It will be easier for you to stay ahead of your competitors and navigate your way forward if you are better prepared for today’s trends and optimize production with automation equipment.
If you are interested in automating glass processing into your glass production process or would like to know more about how to improve production efficiency, contact us today for consultation and cost support. Details via Hotline: 0909 914 837.
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