Page 32 - Glass Machinery Plants & Accessories no. 1/2018

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cOnFErEncE On glass PrOBlEMs
post show report

More than 560 people and solutions providers.
converged upon the The plenary session
Greater Columbus started with remarks from
Convention Center 6-9 Lipetz, and programme present addition material is good long term for
November, for the 78th director S.K. Sundaram on materials science and our industry. It allows
annual Conference of Alfred University, and current research. Lipetz them to look at glass
on Glass Problems the keynote address from said the symposium versus other materials
(GPC). The conference David Pye, who made doubled the program size and ultimately helps us to
brings together global the case for the arrival of and brought in a new build the next generation
manufacturers, suppliers, the “Glass Age.” Pye is variety of expert lectures, of glass specialists,” Ross
and academics to professor of glass science as well as supported said.
exchange innovations and (emeritus) and past significant international Lipetz agreed, stating the
solutions. president of The American participation. conference has gone from
According to Robert Ceramic Society. According to Philip Ross, no student attendance to
Lipetz, conference Tom Cleary, research an independent consultant 45 students at this year’s
coorganizer and executive manager at Corning, Inc., in the glass manufacturing event, which included a
director of the Glass discussed his research to industry, the real-world tour of Owens Corning’s
Manufacturing Industry bring thin, lightweight data with relevant glass plant.
Council (GMIC), the glass to the automotive solutions is one the “Most students have not
record attendance reflects industry; Paul Woskov, reasons the conference seen an industrial glass
the increasing value of the senior research engineer was worthwhile. Ross has furnace and it’s a real eye
conference to the glass at MIT, spoke about attended the conference opener for them,” Lipetz
manufacturing industry. gyrotron based melting; since 1963. explained, adding the
GMIC and Alfred Reinhard Conradt RWTH “I was impressed by networking opportunities
University coorganize the Aachen University, the timeliness of the at the evening hospitality
event. Germany, (retired) spoke information shared,” booths and salons were
“GMIC and the about the relation between Ross said. “There were also a bonus.
GPC advisory board, furnace efficiency and the some really good papers Andrew Balassi, an
comprised of industry physics and chemistry of presented. We saw undergraduate at
volunteers, with support the melting process; and solutions to problems Missouri University of
from Alfred University, Erik Muijsenberg, vice we have not seen before: Science and Technology,
implemented a plan to president of Glass Service, For instance, one paper was a recipient of a USD
increase the opportunities made the case for how discussed a solution 500 student grant. GPC
to find value, supporting ‘Industrial Revolution 4.0’ found for a furnace that was the first conference
attendees’ professional – complete automation they found only three he had attended, and
objectives,” Lipetz – will impact the glass weeks ago. I believe this he said it lived up to
explained. “To that end, industry. Rounding out up-to-date discussion of his expectations with
we added short courses, the plenary session was the troubleshooting of exhibits, lectures, and
this year covering topics current Alfred University methods is very important meeting people. He
in batch and furnace, president Mark Zupan, for the manufacturers underestimated the
safety and controls, as who celebrated all of the here.” networking aspect,
well as a full-day GMIC great glass innovators Ross also felt the however.
organized symposium on who came out of Alfred inclusion of students “I believe this was a great
reducing construction, University. at the conference, networking opportunity
rebuild and hot repair Added this year to the thanks to a generous for me,” Balassi said. “I
times, which was very well conference was the 11th student travel grant graduate in two semesters
received.” Advances in Fusion and underwritten by the O-I and will be looking for
The conference featured Processing of Glass Charitable Foundation, a job. I met with several
technical sessions symposium, organized Air Products, and RoMan people here that I will be
addressing manufacturing in collaboration with Manufacturing, was a able to follow up with,
issues, citing real-world ACerS Glass and Optical great addition. and I think that was very
data from manufacturers Materials Division to “Including the students beneficial for me.”

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