ArcGlass now owns one of the most modern factories for glass processing in the world complete with cutting and sorting system, fully-automatic insulating glass line, handling systems as well as lines for the production of laminated glass and tempered glass.
On 22 November 2011, an official celebration took place during which Bystronic glass handed over a newly constructed and fully-equipped production plant for glass processing to the ArcGlass Company, which is part of the Saudi-Arabian Al Harbi Holding enterprise. Over the past 19 months, an ultra-modern factory complete with cutting and sorting system, fully-automatic insulating glass line, handling systems as well as lines for the production of laminated glass and tempered glass was constructed in the Arabian Desert. This will be the first installation of its kind where the system is directly connected to the furnace and insulating-glass line with an expansion option for the sorting system to the other processes.
The bell for the start of production pealed when Richard Jakob, CEO of the Swiss-German Bystronic glass Group presented a large Swiss cowbell to Abdullah Al Harbi, Chairman of Al Harbi Holding and his son and CEO Fahed Al Harbi. “We would like to express our gratitude that Al Harbi placed their trust in us for this unique and fascinating project and we hereby hand over the turnkey production plant to the Holding today,” said Richard Jakob. In his further address, Jakob underlined the fact that ArcGlass now owns one of the most modern factories for glass processing in the world. This fact, coupled with the quality of Bystronic glass machines, were the most important elements of the decision-making process and criteria for the Saudi-Arabian company when placing the order.
Bystronic glass obtained the order to completely equip a newly constructed production plant in the South of Riyadh at the end of 2009. “The period between the conclusion of the contract, the start of construction and, finally, the handover of the turnkey production arose due to special conditions which occurred on location,” said Richard Jakob who continues: “Establishing a unit for glass production in the desert cannot be compared to the installation of a similar system solution in Western Europe. The harsh desert environment, with frequent sand storms and temperatures up to 50°C, along with additional training required for a team of multi-national employees with different cultural backgrounds and their requirement to work with 21st century technologies results in finding solutions for new challenges that arose every day.”
With this opening, the desire of Abdullah and Fahed Al Harbi to establish a modern production location that makes headlines is now a reality. The first glass unit was then conveyed along the cutting table in front of around 30 guests who were invited by Al Harbi and Bystronic glass. Over the course of the subsequent two-and-a-half hours, the visitors were treated to an impressive demonstration of the comprehensive functions of the glass production system solution – from glass cutting to the production of insulating glass, right through to the production of laminated glass. “We are delighted to be able to work with state-of-the-art technology and also to offer our customers innovative products in the glass sector in the same way as in all of our other business divisions,” said Fahed Al Harbi, whose objective it is to also make Saudi-Arabia a bigger player in the field of modern glass products.