As architectural glass becomes more prominent in modern buildings, Morgan Advanced Materials has slashed its lead times for its Halroll FS fused silica rollers used for glass tempering, after expanding its distributor network into North America.
Fused silica rollers, which are used as transport rollers during the glass tempering process, ensure that safety glass is shatter proof. By making glass more durable, safety concerns associated with glass in building designs can be addressed, without compromising on other considerations such as aesthetics. The superior thermal shock resistance properties and material strength of the fused silica rollers mean they are well suited to deliver a high quality, scratch-free glass finish.
Current lead times for fused silica rollers vary but can typically reach up to 12 weeks for high volumes, leaving North American manufacturers of tempered glass at the mercy of suppliers in the event of unexpected production issues. In catering for the North American market, Morgan has significantly reduced lead times and increased its responsiveness to customer demand in the region.
Not only does tempered glass enhance the aesthetic appeal of a building exterior, increased levels of natural light have been shown to potentially increase occupant wellbeing. Nonetheless, optimising safety remains an ongoing concern for the architectural glass industry, which is bound by stringent standards around tensile strength, energy-efficiency and fire resistance. These diverse requirements are fuelling demand for glass tempering, which treats glass with the aim of minimising the likelihood of dangerous shards in the event of damage.
Kevin McAloon, Business Development Director – Speciality Ceramics at Morgan Advanced Materials, explained: “In terms of performance, our unrivalled material development capability makes our Halroll FS fused silica rollers ideal to meet the demands of the glass tempering industry. Our mechanical endcaps ensure our rollers run true over a long life in the glass tempering furnace. The challenge for us was to become more responsive to market demand and by introducing a US stocking point in New Jersey, we envision this will drastically reduce lead times and therefore the impact of any unexpected downtime. Although we sell primarily to customers for scheduled maintenance, unexpected downtime is a potentially costly scenario which must always be accounted for.”
Morgan Advanced Materials will also be showcasing its full range of Halroll FS fused silica rollers at Glass Build America, Atlanta, Georgia, September 12-14 on booth number 3514.