Fives presents energy-efficient glass melting systems at Glassman Italy

Fives will present its latest glass melting and conditioning technologies at Glassman Italy, held on February 4–5, 2026, at the Bologna Fiere Exhibition Centre. The event marks Glassman’s first edition in Italy and brings together hollow and container glass manufacturers, equipment suppliers, and technical specialists to address efficiency and sustainability challenges across the sector.

A central focus of Fives’ participation is forehearth technology, which plays a critical role in glass temperature conditioning and consistent gob formation. Stable and precise thermal control at this stage directly affects product quality, process stability, and overall energy consumption, making forehearth design increasingly important in low-carbon glass manufacturing.

On February 4, 2026, at 16:10, Matthew Rivers, Development Engineer at Fives Stein Limited, will present research on advanced forehearth concepts based on multi-cooling and multi-heating architectures. The design approach uses computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to optimise heat distribution, enabling tighter temperature control, improved energy performance, and compatibility with multiple heating technologies, including electric and hybrid systems.

Alongside conditioning systems, Fives will highlight melting technologies developed to support reduced carbon emissions and regulatory compliance. These include all-electric melting solutions, hybrid melting configurations combining electrical and fossil energy inputs, and high-efficiency working ends designed to improve thermal management and operational flexibility.

Visitors can engage with Fives’ technical teams at booth #F35 to discuss how these technologies can be applied in new installations or retrofits, supporting decarbonisation strategies while maintaining process reliability and glass quality.

www.fivesgroup.com