[Speaker 1] (0:01 - 0:03)

Listen LiSEC.

[Speaker 2] (0:03 - 0:18)

The podcast about glass processing. Hello and welcome back to the second season of Listen LiSEC deep dives. My name is Sarah.

I'm from the LiSEC marketing department.

[Speaker 1] (0:18 - 0:20)

And I'm Hannes from the LiSEC sales department.

[Speaker 2] (0:20 - 0:40)

And today we're recording in our studio as always at a production site in the Austria and we're situated inside the training centre. So you might hear machines moving in the background or customers being trained. Today we're diving into a topic that's relevant for both flat glass processors as well as end customers and that's the longevity of insulating glass units.

[Speaker 1] (0:40 - 1:07)

So Sarah, I'm really happy to talk about IG today because this is one of LiSEC's area of expertise. But before we start, let's talk about what does longevity actually mean. So longevity in insulating glass is all about how long the unit remains airtight and gas tight.

So there's actually not one single moment where a unit fails. It's a gradual process often measured by gas loss over time.

[Speaker 2] (1:07 - 1:14)

And how would I be able as an end customer to perceive that loss? Because I think the gas is transparent, the glass will still be intact.

[Speaker 1] (1:14 - 1:37)

That's an excellent question, Sarah. So technically, of course, gas is invisible, right? But when the insulating glass loses gas, then the unit starts fogging up and you can see condensation within the unit.

And what is even more important than this is it's a loss on energy efficiency.

[Speaker 2] (1:38 - 1:40)

So I would be able to tell from a heating bill?

[Speaker 1] (1:41 - 1:42)

Absolutely, yes.

[Speaker 2] (1:43 - 1:48)

So what are the influencing factors on the lifespan of an IG unit?

[Speaker 1] (1:49 - 2:37)

So it actually comes down to a two seal system. So the primary seal, usually butyl, is responsible for the gas and water tightness. Then there's also a secondary seal.

This is usually made from three different materials, depending on where the glass unit goes. So you can use polysulfite, polyurethane, and silicon. And that actually provides the mechanical strength and additional protection to the IG unit.

So the effectiveness of these seals and the materials used are crucial. So, for example, silicon at the end of the day is much less gas tight than polysulfite. So the choice of the material makes a huge difference.

But now you will ask yourself the question, so why do you even use silicon then at the end of the day?

[Speaker 2] (2:37 - 2:38)

I really do, yeah.

[Speaker 1] (2:38 - 2:55)

So, yeah, silicon is an interesting material because that's the only material in the second seal that is UV resistant. So if you use an IG glass unit, for example, on a bigger facade, which is exposed to the sun, you have to use silicon as a secondary seal.

[Speaker 2] (2:55 - 3:06)

So seals are a crucial component of keeping IG units airtight. But what are the critical points of failure usually? What do you need to take care of to make sure your IG units last as long as possible?

[Speaker 1] (3:07 - 3:42)

Well, Sarah, I think there are many different reasons why an IG unit can fail at the end of the day. However, the classical weak spots that we see are corners and transitions, especially if the butyl isn't applied continuously. So that's where then gaps, air pockets or misplaced material can lead to leaks.

And so this issue at the end of the day can be in a manual as well as in an automated process. Our development teams are putting a lot of efforts into making sure that our sealing robots are applying the material in the right way.

[Speaker 2] (3:42 - 3:50)

Hearing about the process makes me wonder, are there any standards or best practises about the lifespan of an IG unit?

[Speaker 1] (3:51 - 4:20)

Well, talking about standards, I would say depending on the region, there are usual standards how the IG unit has to perform. However, very rarely there are standards how long they have to last. And I think this is exactly where you as a manufacturer can make a huge difference.

Because if you have a very reliable production process and you can at the end of the day guarantee your customer a 5, 10, 15 year longevity of the IG units, this is how you can differentiate in the market.

[Speaker 2] (4:22 - 4:28)

That's an interesting way to think about it. So what are some concrete ways a manufacturer can improve the quality of their IG units?

[Speaker 1] (4:30 - 5:33)

So Sarah, there is a multitude of things that you can do. So let's start with the simple things. Checking the raw material, looking at the glass sheets, also looking at your machine settings, doing regular controls, making regular sampling, visual checks of the finished IG unit helps.

But it can also go down to the simple things like water quality in the washing machine or even the desiccant that you fill into the box spacer, for example. So a lot of companies what you see out there are also using software to document that. And some of them even go into external audits.

They use lab testing. So there are really multiple things that you can do as a manufacturer. Also, very important is the machines that they're using.

So automation can help here a lot. So if you have an automated process that actually applies the sealant to the IG units, this is really helping to cut down the amount of errors within a finished IG unit.

[Speaker 2] (5:34 - 5:42)

You mentioned automation. That always makes me think of AI nowadays. Is there anything those new technologies can do for IG manufacturing?

[Speaker 1] (5:43 - 6:26)

Absolutely, Sarah. So new technology is always super exciting, right? So there's a lot of innovation out there in the marketplace right now.

So modern machines like the latest LiSEC technology, they use a lot of sensors and feedback systems already on the machine. And as you mentioned, AI, absolutely. I mean, there are cameras coming into play that are now looking into defects and can detect them instantly.

So although these innovations are not yet widespread, but they definitely represent the future of quality control. And at LiSEC, we've been researching and developing these technologies for years. And you can expect to see something exciting coming from us very soon.

[Speaker 2] (6:27 - 6:29)

Are you giving us a teaser there?

[Speaker 1] (6:30 - 6:30)

100%.

[Speaker 2] (6:31 - 6:35)

So I'd like to know, what would you say was the big takeaway of today's episode?

[Speaker 1] (6:36 - 7:14)

So the biggest takeaway from this episode is really invest into quality, right? It's about the materials that you're using. It's about the machines that you're using.

And last but not least, of course, all the controls that you have put in place. Cutting corners may save some money in the short term. However, it leads to complaints and replacements at the end of the day.

So I would say the right mindset and the right processes definitely pay off, especially if you're living in the demanding market. And you know, in German, we do have a very interesting saying, buy cheap, buy twice.

[Speaker 2] (7:16 - 7:29)

That's good advice in any area of life. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise today. It was very interesting talking with you about such a widespread topic in the flat glass processing industry.

And thank you to our listeners. Stay tuned and stay curious.

[Speaker 1] (7:30 - 7:37)

Thank you so much, Sarah. Always a pleasure. This has been Listen LiSEC, a podcast about glass processing.

[Speaker 2] (7:38 - 7:44)

Visit lisec.com to find out more about our innovative machines, automation solutions, software and services made in Austria.

[Speaker 1] (7:44 - 7:49)

Or visit our company blog to read about the latest in glass processing and glass function.

[Speaker 2] (7:49 - 7:52)

For more insights, listen LiSEC.