Oct. 9, 2023 - After Glassman Europe and Glassman USA, refractories manufacturer RATH participated in Glassman Asia and showcased its latest developments – from a new, advanced feeder expendables series to new channel block qualities and innovative hot gas filter elements. Once more, the experts at the RATH booth demonstrated how to act even more sustainably. A topic that interested many, as the number of visitors at the RATH booth showed.
“The Asian market is very important to RATH, especially for the feeder expendable business. As for our high-quality, high added-value products, we are seeing significant growth potential in the region. Therefore, we were especially pleased to participate in the Glassman Asia exhibition in South Korea and to present our latest product developments,” says Robert Nusszer, Head of Sales Glass, RATH.
The Austrian refractories manufacturer, who operates internationally, presented various products in Seoul, including the new FOURATH 4xx feeder expendable product family, the newly developed channel block qualities, the fused-silica products and the lightweight Altraform spout cover blocks.
Furthermore, RATH showcased the innovative ceramic hot gas filter elements (the FILTRATH catalytic and non-catalytic filter elements), which make it possible to filter particle-laden industrial flue gases at temperatures up to 1000 °C and to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides.
Strong focus on R&D and sustainable refractory solutions
The further development of refractory compositions, including for the glass industry, is a challenge RATH takes up with great commitment – always with a strong focus on sustainable and energy-saving refractory solutions.
A recent example of this is the new, advanced feeder expendables series: the product series called FOURATH 4xx, is based on an optimised formulation that has been exclusively developed and produced by RATH.
During the R&D process, RATH selected the highest quality raw materials to keep the impurity level to a minimum and achieve the lowest possible glass corrosion, infiltration, devitrification, and blistering rate. To be more competitive on the market, the entire manufacturing process was changed from slipcasting to vibrocasting by using the same mould park.
This brings some significant advantages to RATH customers. First of all, the product quality is improved, with better corrosion, infiltration and devitrification resistance, better thermal shock and crack resistance, and longer service life due to a more compact mix, better surface quality, significantly lower porosity and higher CCS. Secondly, the new manufacturing technology avoids additional grinding of the tube’s outer surface while maintaining the tight tolerances.
“This enables us to increase the service life of the tube and significantly reduce cracking in the tube by eliminating the micro-crack formulation during machining,” Robert Nusszer summarises. “The new product series has been put through its paces in our laboratories and has successfully passed the first glass factory trials in the last 2-3 years, which was a very long process, but we are very satisfied with the results.”
RATH also presented the newly developed channel block qualities
RATH has recently resumed the production of forehearth 333 channel blocks at the US facility in Owensville. The channel blocks are manufactured using the original 333 formulas with the original casting technology, which made the mix popular on the market, from Europe to the USA and Asia.
“The 333 with its fine selection of raw materials, very low impurity and low zircon-oxide level yet excellent glass corrosion resistance will be a first-class answer to all the requirements of container glass manufacturers,” adds Robert Nusszer.
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