The Flexmelter - A Technology Update

The Flexmelter combines important capabilities in a way which alternative furnace designs have not been able to match. Since the first Flexmelter furnace in 1988, more than 20 furnaces of this type have been built. As shown in the two examples described in this paper, the Flexmelter can be successfully used for applications not originally envisaged. The size and application of the two examples illustrate the wide range of applications of this furnace design for the production of special containers, tableware, stemware and giftware, where the unique combination of flexibility and excellent glass quality is vital.