40 Glass-Technology International 4/2015

I G E Q U I P M E N T

Bystronic glass

HISTORY – THE FIRST SEALING ROBOT

The first sealing robot was developed and built by the former company Lenhardt Maschinenbau GmbH (now today, Bystronic Lenhardt GmbH), back in 1981. As the first pilot machine evolved, it was initially trialled for nine months before being sold on to the first customer, Bischoff based in Bretten (Germany). Then the first customers had pre-arran-ged to evaluate this new machine for themselves. “Our long-standing custo-mer Flachglas Wernberg (Germany) gave us the ini-tial design suggestion for the shape of the nozzle,” said Heinz Burghard.Employees at Flachglas Wernberg proposed to the then managing director

Karl Lenhardt, to develop a round nozzle rather than an immersion one. As it turned out, this was a de-cisive factor in significantly improving the quality of the sealing process. “The first worldwide sales of sealing robots subsequen-tly followed,” said Heinz Burghard.

REVOLUTION THROU-GH EVOLUTIONFor Karl Lenhardt and his enthusiastic team, the prints on the glass caused by chain conveyors that were used at that time, were a thorn in their side. After numerous attempts to work with alternative con-veying solutions the V-belt technology was introduced. Using this system, only the edges of the glass are posi-tioned on the V-belt, there-fore neither the glass surfa-ces nor the sealing material

CELEBRATING A MAJOR

MILESTONE WITH THE

1000th SEALING ROBOT

At the Bystronic glass Neuhausen-Hamberg location, there is a cause for great delight: The 1000th sealing robot, namely the high-performance “speed’sealer” was delivered a few days ago to a Chinese customer. All employees are extremely proud, especially the group leader in the mechanical assembly department, Heinz Burghard, who previously worked on the production of the first sealing robot. In this article we look at the history and development of the product.

I G E Q U I P M E N T

42 Glass-Technology International 4/2015

comes into contact with the belt. “At that time, I was dumbstruck at such a non-sensical design. However consequently, everybody grasped that this was the only way to achieve a per-fect seal,” Heinz Burghard explained with a smile.

PRECISE DOSING TECHNOLOGYThe following years saw many new developments and advancements, without which, today’s Bystro-nic glass top model, the speed’sealer, would not have become the best sea-ling robot in the market. In 1998, to save long waits between the dosing of the sealing material and insula-ting glass unit to be sealed, the gear pump dosing sy-stem was launched. Here, the dispensing equipment is attached directly to the sealing head, which results in an exact sealing material dosage.“We always wanted to be a step ahead have adju-sted the sealer accordingly to meet the needs of the

market at all times,” said Heinz Burghard. After the sealing robot was able to seal shaped insulating glass units, it was then presented at the glasstec tradeshow in 2000, equipped for the first time with conveyor belts for 4-sided stepped insula-ting glass units.The market developed ra-pidly towards large glass facades and curtain wal-ling, which were sealed with silicone. “We had to react quickly and develo-ped a manual system for different sealing materials; however, this required gre-ater input by the customer. The manual system the-refore was soon replaced by an automatic material changing system,” Heinz Burghard commented. “Furthermore our custo-mers demanded more in the form a faster mixing system. That is why Bystronic glass went on to develop a dynamic mixing

system with a significantly higher flow rate compared to previously known static mixing systems, which ulti-mately seal I.G. units much faster.”Both systems were intro-duced for the first time at glasstec 2010 in the form of the speed’sealer.

TODAY’S HIGH-SPEED’SEALERThe speed’sealer is a high-speed sealing robot. A tri-ple insulating glass unit can be sealed in two rounds without the need for noz-zle exchange or downtime. The speed’sealer is highly accurate and immediately adapts to changes in joint depth. Its self-monitoring system always ensures a constant mixing ratio of both material components.“The speed’sealer is one great machine. I can hardly imagine any future direc-tion for sealing robot de-velopment. We have im-

plemented and achieved so much. I am very proud that I was part of this story from the outset and even today, I still work on the assembly of the speed’sealer ,” con-cluded Heinz Burghard.

BYSTRONIC GLASSBystronic glass symbolizes innovation with machinery, systems and services for the processing of architectural and automotive glass focu-sed on tomorrow’s market. From basic requirements through to entire, customi-zed installations Bystronic glass provides pioneering solutions – naturally, all in the highest quality. Bystro-nic glass is an international brand with globally opera-ting companies that sup-port their customers on site and through own sales and service companies. Since 1994, Bystronic glass is part of the Conzzeta AG, a renowned Swiss industrial holding company.

www.bystronic-glass.com

Because we care

Bystronic glass Technology Co. Ltd.