The glass industry is facing profound change. Driven by rising cost pressures, increasing demands on product quality and efficiency and a shortage of skilled workers, automation and intelligent production processes are increasingly growing in importance. LiSEC, a leading supplier of machines and software solutions for flat glass processing, is meeting these challenges head on – with innovative concepts and custom solutions.
"For years, we've been observing a clear trend toward larger glass formats, more complex structures and a higher degree of automation," explains Markus Jandl. Glass lengths of up to 12 metres, high-quality solar control coatings and laminate structures are no longer the exception. At the same time, there is a growing need for transparency in production – production data is increasingly being used to provide KPIs for management and employees.
The current focus is on conserving resources and increasing efficiency. Optimised material flows and planned maintenance intervals significantly improve the utilisation of existing machine fleets. Thanks to the extensive LiSEC machine and software portfolio and the LongLife program, existing systems are also being continuously upgraded. "It's particularly difficult to find suitable personnel for monotonous tasks; a high degree of automation helps to safeguard productivity here," continues Jandl.
Looking into the future, it is apparent that: self-learning processes, visual quality controls and AI-supported evaluation tools will minimise operator influence and ensure consistently high product quality. Laser technology is also gaining in importance – it has already established itself in the area of bird-friendly glass and glass markings in particular.
LiSEC supports its customers with state-of-the-art tools right from the project planning stage: a 3D simulation of the machine fleet – including material flow simulation – enables precise cycle time calculation and the early identification of bottlenecks. Changes in input parameters such as the average glass size or thickness, single or double-shift operation, machine availability, number of glass storage locations, etc. can be adjusted in the material flow simulation tool, and the resulting shift in the respective machine utilisation (bottlenecks) becomes instantly visible. "Our customers see their production in fast motion; this establishes trust and ensures that planning is reliable," highlights Jandl. LiSEC also offers analysis tools for evaluating production and energy data, in order to identify and implement optimisation potentials together with the customer.
A further decisive factor is the ease of use of the machines. "A modern system must be intuitive to use while also allowing you to make custom changes in expert mode," explains Jandl. This is the only way that companies can respond flexibly to new market demands and remain competitive in the long run.
External influences such as temperature fluctuations in the production hall or changes in the material composition also place high demands on the machines. LiSEC tackles these challenges with intelligent control systems that automatically compensate for such variables and in doing so ensure consistently high quality.
"Our goal is not only to supply machines, but to provide comprehensive solutions that make our customers more successful in the long term," sums up Jandl. With a clear focus on innovation, efficiency and customer orientation, LiSEC is positioning itself as a strong partner for the glass industry of the future.
