Within the production cycle in the second glass processing, the handling and management of the sheets within the production process is an increasingly important aspect.
The solutions that integrate the processes become protagonists because they optimize the handling processes of the slabs: especially when dealing with large slabs - architecture, design - optimizing the handling becomes a key to the success of a company. FORVET automated and integrated machines go in this direction, since they are designed to perform multiple operations at the same time, reducing the handling of the plate and optimizing the flows.
With a view to handling and managing the plate within the production process, FORVET S.p.a. introduced in 2018 FORBOT extension, a patented automatic glass handling system. FORBOT creates an automatic connection between the work area (grinding, drilling and milling), and the processes downstream of the process (tempering, printing, etc.). It temporarily separates the upstream and downstream zones, operating with a configurable buffer that works completely automatically with consequent optimization of the cycle time.
The latest innovation introduced by FORVET S.p.a. for the management of the plates within the production cycle is SORTIFLEX, the temporary buffer for the optimized logistic management of production flows. SORTIFLEX was presented by FORVET S.p.a. during the Showcase organized by the company in February 2021. SORTIFLEX has been designed to meet the process flexibility requirements that many glassworks today have to face: SORTIFLEX, in addition to FORVET lines, can be integrated with machines from all major manufacturers of technologies for flat glass processing. It works as a time buffer to optimize glass flows from different sources to a single output, or from a single source to multiple outputs.
The patented two-storey storage area doubles, improving the number of slots available with the same footprint, and increases the storage volume with the same footprint. The slabs are removed and repositioned inside the line by Navetta45 the dedicated loading / unloading shuttle designed and built by FORVET S.p.a.. The time of each loading and unloading cycle, in addition to being extremely fast, is extremely precise and repeatable so as to be able to connect the buffer in line in a completely automatic way with the other processing processes present in the production line. The glasses must in fact be able to flow in a synchronized and efficient way, thus avoiding useless handling and waste in their management. SORTIFLEX can be equipped with a metal sheet between all slots to avoid the diffusion of glass fragments in case of glass breakage after tempering.
The optimization software SORT developed by FORVET S.p.a. allows a fully automated on-line control of the production cycle. The software communicates with the different production stations to optimize their processes and also provides the operator with a real-time view of the current state of production. SORTIFLEX, like the whole range of Forvet solutions, can be customized according to the specific needs of the customer: FORVET S.p.a. always starts from the needs with the customer to give life to their solutions.
