In South Africa, glass is an indispensable material with applications spanning automotive, architecture, food and beverages, cosmetics, electronics, and robotics industries. The country’s glass manufacturing sector is undergoing a transformative phase, embracing innovative and efficient production techniques that align with global sustainability trends.

This shift not only meets the growing demands of various industries but also fortifies the glass industry's contribution to the South African economy.

At the heart of this transformation lies the crucial role of lubricants, ensuring seamless production, improved efficiency, and superior product quality. FUCHS LUBRICANTS SOUTH AFRICA stands at the forefront of this evolution, providing cutting-edge formulations that cater to the industry's needs. By offering solutions that reduce friction under extreme thermal conditions and ensure a pristine finish.

FUCHS plays a vital role in supporting the shift towards greater automation and energy efficiency in the glass manufacturing process.

The importance of Lubricants in Glass Manufacturing include;

• Enhancing Equipment Performance - The machinery used in glass manufacturing, including cutting machines, conveyor belts, and molding equipment, operates continuously, leading to wear. Lubricants minimise friction between moving parts, thereby reducing wear and extending the lifespan of equipment. This not only lowers maintenance costs but also ensures uninterrupted production processes.
• Improving Energy Efficiency - Lubricants significantly contribute to energy efficiency by reducing friction, which decreases the energy required to operate machinery. This increase in energy efficiency reduces operational costs and supports a more sustainable manufacturing process by lowering overall energy consumption.
• Ensuring Product Quality - Precision is vital in glass manufacturing, as even minor deviations can affect the final product's quality. Lubricants help maintain this precision by ensuring that machinery operates smoothly and consistently. Consistency is essential for producing glass products that meet exact specifications, such as thickness and clarity. In the heat-intensive and sensitive world of glass production, consistency, cleanliness, and equipment protection are indispensable.

FUCHS LUBRICANTS SOUTH AFRICA is proud to offer tailor-made lubrication solutions that meet the unique demands of glass forming and processing. From high-performance release agents to specialised high-temperature greases and oils.

The VITROLIS product range from FUCHS is the most extensive in the industry, covering the lubrication requirements of the container, float, optical, and vial forming industries.

Core product offerings include:

• Swabbing, shear, synthetic machine oils, delivery lubricants, and coatings for container manufacturing.
• Cutting, grinding, and beveling fluids for the float glass industry.
• H1 approved lubricants for vial forming in the pharmaceutical industry.

The VITROLIS range also includes grinding and cutting media, molding oils, and swabbing compounds for the flat glass, container glass, and optics industries. Cleaning agents, release agents, and other auxiliary materials for machinery complete this comprehensive portfolio, making it ideal for all applications in the glass-producing industry.

With local support and a deep understanding of operational constraints in the country, FUCHS partners with local glass manufacturers to optimise uptime and extend asset life.