Increasing productivity by working with clean process water is recognized and realized more and more in modern glass processing companies. This is also confirmed by Mr. Samer Zaineddin, Operations Manager of White Aluminium Enterprises L.L.C. in Abu Dhabi, UAE, where 2 “Sedimentor” units for the cleaning of process water, made by the German manufacturer Bohle, were installed in June 2013.
“Although I was convinced of the quality of Bohle products due to our long history of cooperation, I would not have thought that the results of this water cleaning system are so obvious” says Mr. Samer, pointing out that after only 3 months of operation he can´t believe how he could ever work without such a system. Two “Sedi 2.4” systems are connected to two interlinked double edgers, efficiently cleaning the process water of the large quantities of glass sludge being produced. “While we had to clean the water tanks every 5 days previously, we are now cleaning them only once per month. And the cleaning takes only 1 hour instead of 5 hours, due to the cleaner water. And this is not the end – we are working with a very delicate type of glass at the moment. Once we work with normal glass again, we plan to extend the cleaning cycle even more.” Mr. Samer points out.
Apart from the higher productivity due to less cleaning time, the advantages of a water cleaning system are manifold: the cleaner water, especially in combination with a coolant, allows an increase of the processing speed of up to 20% without compromising on the polishing quality, combined with an increase of the life time of the diamond tools of up to 30%. Cleaner water prevents machinery corrosion, thus reducing maintenance. The glass itself has considerably less water stains, making it easier to clean after processing.
As the Bohle system works with a powder flocculant in a bypass cleaning cycle, no flocculant reaches the process water in the edging machine itself, thus avoiding any chemicals in the process water. The flocculant is inexpensive and non-hazardous, making especially the Bohle “Sedimentor” system one of the safest, most efficient and most economical in the market.
“The Bohle system is easy to use and practically self-explanatory. We are so satisfied that we are already planning to invest in further systems to connect our other glass processing machines.” says Samer.
Bohle UAE agent Gutal is convinced that within a short period of time, more glass processing companies will be investing in Bohle water cleaning systems. “If you consider all combined advantages in addition to the fact that local guidelines on the disposal of waste water are becoming much stricter, there is actually no way around such systems” says Mr. Sandeep Ponnarambil (aka Sam), General Manager of Gutal Trading Est. “We are already in discussion with several companies in the Gulf region about the installation of further systems within the year 2014.” So far, Bohle “Sedimentor” system are installed at glass processing companies in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Qatar – apart from the more than 150 systems which have been installed in Europe and worldwide in the last few years.
