The year 2019 is going to be a special one for the mainly German-based, but internationally operating Heinz-Glas group. Especially at its Polish site Działdowo, the glassmaker successfully completed a large investment project of over 30 million euros to increase its production capacity considerably.

It involved an overhaul of the furnace for making opal glass, the building of a new glass furnace for manufacturing flint glass (output of 150 tons per day) being the largest one in the Heinz group’s history, the installation of the first 12-section automatic glass working machine for cosmetic glass and, finally, the expansion of the site’s production hall and infrastructure.

On May 24, a ceremonial inauguration of the operating furnace took place, together with customers, suppliers as well as local and regional authorities at the Polish site of the Group. This investment comes at a time when the German Group has also decided to reinvest in China. The Group had acquired some months ago a 60,000 sqm plot at an industry-park near Shanghai to build a brand-new glass factory.

The Group employ 3,200 people, spread over five glass factories and 12 other locations around the world, including Germany, of course, but also Peru, India, Switzerland, USA, China and Poland. Glass sales concerning this activity, including finishing activities, represent today 280 million euros. As for their plastic activities, the Group has three dedicated factories employing some 250 people in Germany, Switzerland and Poland representing a total turnover of 30 million euros.

In Poland, Heinz-Glas has invested no less than 38 million euros spread over 18 months with, in particular, the construction of a new state-of-the-art 140 tons/day gas furnace, that can be “boosted” to 180 tons/day and supplies six production lines, including a new 12-section line dedicated to perfumery and cosmetics. In addition to this relatively big furnace for white flint glass, the plant also has a fully electric furnace with two lines for white opal.

Pro-ecological aspects have been an important element of the activities in Poland. The first candle filter was installed in this Działdowo plant. It comprehensively reduces emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and dust generated in the process of glass melting. This imposing structure will allow the glassmaker to reduce the emissions of the above-mentioned gasses and dusts which will be much lower than the current European standards specified for the glass industry. The energy use for the melting process is also improved by around 40%.

“In general, explains Carl August Heinz, CEO, a crucial part of our group’s future strategy is its big efforts to constantly reduce the use of resources like energy, water or rare earth elements as well as the emission reduction of dust and gas. Because only with a responsible and honest treatment of the environment, can Heinz Glas’s understanding of “sustainability” be reached— “the harmonizing interaction of ecological, economic, social and cultural aspects.”

It is noted that in the Kleintettau site in Germany, the Group has also built a new electric furnace that will be operational this month onward and whose operating principle is particularly energy efficient, after we have enlarged our second German glass factory in Piesau by an additional eight section IS-line in September 2017.