Heinz-Glas inaugurates all-electric glass packaging furnace

Heinz-Glas has inaugurated a fully electric glass packaging furnace at its facility in Piesau, Germany.

The furnace was officially inaugurated on September 16^th.

It has a capacity of 70 tpd, and CO₂-free electricity replaces fossil fuel gas.

The Heinz-Glas Group has invested approximately €17 million in this project to transform the Piesau production site.

Six months ago, the gas tank that had previously been in use at the Piesau facility was drained and torn down.

It was then replaced with a climate-friendly and fully electric glass melting tank during the renovation phase, which lasted several months.

In addition, further production processes are to be converted to fossil-free energy sources such as green electricity and green hydrogen in the following years.

Tempering began mid-September, and glass bottles will be produced in Piesau again as usual from October.

The Heinz-Glas Group currently employs around 280 people at the Piesau location.

At the ceremonial inauguration of the furnace on September 16^th, employees and external companies were invited as guests.

At the ceremony, the new furnace was christened “Edith”.

CEO and owner Carletta Heinz placed the last stone before a topping-out tree was attached to the glass melting tank, a tradition which celebrates a successful construction project.

Heinz-Glas would like to thank everyone involved in the furnace construction, especially the Piesau workforce for their patience over the past six months.

In a statement, Ms Heinz, Chief Operating Officer Christian Fröba, and Plant Manager Reiner Bock said: “With the commissioning of the new electric glass melting tank, another important step has been taken in terms of electrification and towards fossil-free production.

“We are therefore clearly sticking to our goal of establishing the world's first fossil-free glassworks here at the Piesau location. We are now looking forward to the start of production and would like to thank all colleagues for their commitment and patience.”

At Heinz-Glas’ headquarters in Kleintettau, both glass melting tanks are already running on electricity.