Boussois float plant (France) celebrates 120th anniversary


The Boussois float glass plant in northern France celebrated 120 years of operation on Friday, 1 June. The ceremony was attended by District Sub-Prefect Alexander Grimaud and numerous representatives of the worlds of politics and industry and of the press. A magnificent cake measuring 180 x 40 cm in the form of a complete float line was baked specially for the occasion!

The plant is now the largest French producer of flat glass, with two float lines and a total capacity of more than 1,300 tonnes per day. Employing some 230 people it specialises in production of clear glass (Planibel Clearlite) and glass with high light transmission (Planibel Clearvision) for the construction industry and the indoor furnishings market. The plant recently distinguished itself with production of XXL glass sheets having an outsize length of 16 metres (compared with the industry standard of 6 metres) for prestige architectural projects.

Apart from these products the plant previously demonstrated its innovative capabilities in 2008 when it was the first in the world to introduce oxycombustion1 into its process, with the combustion gas pre-heated by heat recovered from the flue gases. This system led to a reduction in energy consumption by around 25% along with significant reductions in atmospheric emissions: 15% less carbon dioxide (CO2), 38% less sulphur dioxide (SO2) and 83% less nitrogen oxides (NOx), making it one of the most ecological in the world.

 

1: Instead of being fed with ordinary air the furnace operates with 100% pure oxygen. Since ordinary air contains only 20% oxygen and 80% nitrogen, oxycombustion prevents burning nitrogen which only wastes energy and does not contribute to the process.



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AGC Glass Europe

Benoît Ligot
Corporate Communication Manager
Glass.communications@agc.com

AGC Glass Europe, a European leader in flat glass

AGC Glass Europe produces, processes and markets flat glass for the construction industry (external glazing and interior decoration), car manufacture and other industrial sectors (transport, solar power and high-tech). It is the European branch of AGC, a world leader in flat glass. It has over 100 sites throughout Europe and employs around 15,300 employees.

More information on www.agc-glass.eu (corporate site), www.agc-yourglass.com (glass for the construction industry) and www.agc-automotive.com (for the automotive industry).