Arglass and Zippe Collaborate on New $120 Million Glass Plant in Valdosta, Boosting Sustainability and Efficiency

Arglass has announced a new partnership with Zippe to construct their second plant in Valdosta, USA. The project, scheduled for installation in December 2024 and commissioning in Q2 of 2025, aims to improve operational efficiency and sustainability through the use of modern technology.

At the heart of this collaboration is the Zippe batch plant, specifically designed to meet the requirements of contemporary glass production. The system has a capacity of 495 tons per day for the second furnace, with a focus on optimizing raw material handling, pre-mixing, and batch transport processes. Its modular design ensures easy integration into Arglass’s existing infrastructure, minimizing downtime during installation and commissioning phases.

Key features of the batch plant include mechanical raw material feeding mechanisms like truck and train unloading systems equipped with vibratory tray feeders and elevators. A silo system capable of storing up to 10 raw materials, with the largest silo having a volume of 500m3, feeds into an automatic pre-mix plant. This pre-mix plant, along with a 3,000-litre mixer and precise weighing line, guarantees consistent formulation and quality control throughout the production process.

Arglass is also committed to sustainability through their implementation of a cullet return system that serves four IS machines. This system incorporates scraping conveyors, crushers, falling tubes, and conveyor belts to efficiently recycle glass cullet. The integration of Zippe’s ZMART intelligent scraping conveyor control system is notable as it optimizes conveyor speed based on gob weight and quantity to reduce wear and energy consumption.

The construction of this second plant will help Arglass increase their production capacity while reducing costs associated with transportation and logistics. It will also enable them to improve their environmental impact by reducing waste generation and increasing resource efficiency.

Overall this partnership between Arglass and Zippe is expected to bring significant benefits not only for the companies involved but also for the local community in Valdosta where the plant will be built.