Beatson Clark installs £5.4m furnace to improve efficiency

The furnace, which produces white flint, in other words, clear glass, has a daily capacity of around 200 tonnes of glass and gives Beatson Clark in Rotherham the same size melting area as the previous furnace. However, the company, which has a turnover of £44m and employs 300 people in the town, says an improved design will mean greater efficiency and reduced carbon dioxide emissions.

It said the new equipment can alter the length of the flame to burn more gas, thereby reducing NOx emissions – a term for nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide. Improvements to the regenerators and an increased wall height mean that more heat can be recycled. Meanwhile, a new burner system with an oxygen control facility ensures combustion is optimised.

Around 80 contractors have been involved in the rebuild and maintenance project, including Sheffield-based Tecoglas which designed the furnace, Chapman Brack which undertook the rebuild and Batts Engineering of Rotherham which fabricated and installed the structural furnace steelwork.

The furnace rebuild is part of a £10m investment by Beatson Clark in its Rotherham base this year. Picture: Steve PARKIN