German flat glass processing machinery manufacturer, Grenzebach, has commenced tests for online cutting with laser. A change of the colour of the glass melt at Pilkington's Weiherhammer plant, provided a good opportunity for an initial test run of 100,000 square-metres of glass ribbon. The expectations of the development team were totally fulfilled during the test. Very precise continuous scoring of the glass ribbon stopped exactly to the millimetre at the defined cutting end. Unlike conventionally scored edges, the laser cut glass edge is smooth and free of micro cracks. As a result, the breaking strength of the glass sheet is much greater. The new technology, developed in the network project LiST, sponsored by BMBF, facilitates online cutting of all glass thicknesses. Until now, only thin glass could be cut by laser.
