To support ambitious growth plans, the Dutch company Buys Glas didn’t just expand its production space, they invested in smart automation. At the center of this transformation is LiSEC’s GPS.autofab system, which allows seamless integration of various processing machines, even from different suppliers, into one streamlined workflow. The result? A highly automated line that handles single glass sheets with precision and reliability.
Laying the groundwork for smart automation
The collaboration between Buys Glas and LiSEC began at the greenfield phase of the installation. Mr. Youri Kurvers, owner-manager of Buys Glas, remembers sketching his vision for the future into a digital building map during the first online meeting with LiSEC.
“The biggest challenge was making the right decisions,” Mr. Kurvers says. “Our goal was to have topline quality machines, as well as machines and software communicating with each other without a third party.” Buys Glas values the journey from initial ideas sketched digitally, through collaborative discussions, all the way to smooth operational implementation.
"We believe that the combination of LiSEC machines with a processing line from a second supplier was the best choice we could have made. I’d describe our cooperation with LiSEC in one sentence: the right partner for the right job."
Efficient glass processing with minimal effort
A range of LiSEC solutions supports and automates Buys Glas’ production process. On the machinery side, Buys Glas has invested in an automated storage system for jumbo formats that transfers the glass panes to two cutting lines: an ESL-RS float cutting machine with automatic XYZ breaking, which enables the edge deletion and cutting of float glass in a single operation, and a DSC-A + VB laminated glass cutting machine, which can process both rectangles and special shapes up to a thickness of 12/4,56/12.
Both cutting lines feed into an intelligent buffer shuttle system, which ensures the uninterrupted flow of glass between the cutting and processing lines. Thanks to sophisticated automation, the entire line can be operated efficiently with just a few employees.
GPS.autofab: The digital backbone of Buys Glas’ production line
On the software side, production planning is handled in GPS.prod, with ready messaging managed via GPS.ident using a manual scanner. GPS.autofab coordinates the production flow and plays a central role in bringing this integration to life.
GPS.autofab is designed to interconnect machinery and enable smooth data exchange with ERP systems. This includes determining the path of each glass pane through the production process and managing buffer systems to optimize efficiency.
At Buys Glas, GPS.autofab was implemented to automate the production line as extensively as possible – from the glass storage area to the third-party processing line – while minimizing operator intervention. The system ensures a continuous and reliable data flow between machines, which is essential for maintaining high production standards and reducing manual errors.
A key feature of the GPS.autofab solution at Buys Glas is its ability to integrate third-party machines through targeted data communication. A dedicated interface was developed to generate drawings for each pane, storing them in a directory with all necessary processing information. Communication between the outfeed conveyor and the edge processing machine enables precise routing of panes, ensuring they are processed in the correct sequence.
Future Plans
Mr. Kurvers vision remains ambitious: “First, we want to get this business up and running, and in the future, we want to connect the rest of the production line with the total system for full automation of single glass processing.” LiSEC looks forward to supporting Buys Glas automation plans.
Buys Glas’ Company Profile
- Founding year: 1986
- Location: Stramproy, Netherlands
- Production area: 8.000 m2
- Number of employees: 25-30
- Product range: Single glass production (> 200 different glass types) including a wide variety of single glass processing
- Buys Glas’ USP: Their wide variety of glasses, processing and very flexible delivery times
- Target customers: Interior design-, metal- and glass companies in Holland and Belgium
- Sustainability focus: Solid green energy base with recent investment into 2 MW battery and 1600 solar panels
