Praxair Start-Up Supplies World´s Largest Glass Container Manufacturer

Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX) announced that it has started up a 180-tons-per-day, non-cryogenic plant for Owens-Illinois (O-I), the world's largest glass container manufacturer and preferred partner for many of the world's leading food and beverage brands. O-I has converted a conventional air-fuel glass furnace to oxy-fuel using Praxair’s oxy-fuel combustion technology and, under a long-term contract, Praxair will supply gaseous oxygen to the glass facility located in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

Oxy-fuel combustion uses oxygen rather than air to enhance combustion, improve energy efficiency in the glass melting process and reduce nitrogen oxide emissions. In addition to supplying the oxygen, Praxair has provided the oxy-fuel combustion flow control skids and installed its dilute oxygen combustion Wide Flame Burner technology, designed to minimize furnace emissions and reduce furnace crown deterioration.

“Praxair pioneered the development of advanced oxygen-based processes for enhancing combustion within glass furnaces,” said Pravin Mathur, executive director for Praxair’s Global Market Development organization. “We are pleased to continue to bring this experience to our longtime customer, O-I. Our plant and technology will provide an efficient and reliable supply of oxygen and oxy-fuel combustion to O-I, increasing their productivity and improving the environmental performance of their manufacturing processes.”

“Praxair’s extensive technical and process experience with oxy-fuel glass furnaces played a key role in helping us successfully design and start up our newest furnace,” said Will Besancon, O-I project manager. “We look forward to their continued support with the new furnace, which will improve the efficiency and sustainability of our glass operations in Muskogee.”

The glass container industry produces containers for packaging food and beverage products. The United States manufactures approximately 10 million tons of product annually and is the largest segment of the glass industry, by volume. O-I delivers safe, sustainable, pure, iconic, brand-building glass packaging to this growing global marketplace.