This paper covers the experience of the authors based on the studies and developments made within the company over the years, where improvements on furnace design have always been a major issue. Developments have been achieved by driving forces like requirements for higher glass quality, different products, and increased number of product changes, energy efficiencies, lower investment cost and environmental challenges. Although in the glass world today there are studies and projects to develop different radical melting techniques, like plasma melting, submerged combustion, segmented melter and vacuum refiners being the most promising amongst the many, the progress going from pilot to full scale is slow and not all the glass manufactures are giving enough funds to support these projects.
