A £6.5m investment project has entered production at the South Yorkshire premises of UK glass container specialist, Beatson Clark in recent weeks. The enlarged amber furnace improves the glassmaker's capacity to supply a growing market for craft beer bottles, both in the UK and overseas. The furnace melting area has been increased by more than 6m2 and can produce some 200/tpd. According to a spokesperson, an improved design provides greater efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions, while improvements to the regenerators and a greater wall height have increased the combustion volume. Stirrers have been installed in the forehearths to improve glass quality and the forehearths have been widened to obtain greater furnace pull. Furthermore, the equipment now utilises the flame length to burn more gas, thereby reducing NOx emissions by over 20%. Meanwhile, a burner system with an oxygen trip facility ensures combustion is optimised, further increasing efficiency.
