Spacers

Spacer Talk - Swiggle? Super Spacer? What Are They?
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Mark
Posts: 67
Joined: Thu Oct 07, 2004 9:26 am
Location: Atlanta

Spacers

#1 Post by Mark »

1) In the overall scheme of a homeowner picking out replacement windows, how much should we worry about which spacer system is the window we are looking at?

2) Tim's website lists 3 spacer systems (Super, Intercept, and Squiggle. Is Schcuo's TPS a fourth system or just a trade name for one of the above?

3) What area of window performance does a Spacer effect? U-factor, or air infiltration, or SHGC, fill gas leakage, or what?

4) All other things being equal, how much does the spacer effect the item in question 3?

Window4U (IL)
Posts: 1548
Joined: Thu Oct 07, 2004 8:46 am
Location: Sales and Installation in Chicagoland and Central Illinois

Re: Spacers

#2 Post by Window4U (IL) »

Mark wrote:1) In the overall scheme of a homeowner picking out replacement windows, how much should we worry about which spacer system is the window we are looking at?
>>>My opinion is that if you are buying a low grade window designed to last 15 years, then the spacer is not as relevant, because it will probably last the life of the window. If on the other hand, you are buying a premium window that is designed to last 40-100 years or more, then the spacer becomes very relevant, and I would say more important as any feature on the window. [/size]

2) Tim's website lists 3 spacer systems (Super, Intercept, and Squiggle. Is Schcuo's TPS a fourth system or just a trade name for one of the above?
>>>The TPS system is a 4th.

3) What area of window performance does a Spacer effect? U-factor, or air infiltration, or SHGC, fill gas leakage, or what?
>>>It affects gas fill retention and U-factor. The warmer the spacer, the warmer the glass will be all things being equal.

4) All other things being equal, how much does the spacer effect the item in question 3?
>>>The spacer can make the difference between losing the gas fill over a few years, and keeping it functioning as designed for the lifetime of the window. TPS and Superspacer lead the pack in keeping the gas in place, though all modern spacers do a lot better job than the metal tube spacers and sealants of the past.

Oberon
Posts: 280
Joined: Thu Oct 07, 2004 10:25 am
Location: East of the Mississippi

Re: Spacers

#3 Post by Oberon »

Mark wrote:1) In the overall scheme of a homeowner picking out replacement windows, how much should we worry about which spacer system is the window we are looking at?

~ I would suggest that it really is more important for a consumer to find a company that builds a quality unit and also ensures a quality installation. The spacer will be of little value if the other two factors are not considered paramount.

2) Tim's website lists 3 spacer systems (Super, Intercept, and Squiggle. Is Schcuo's TPS a fourth system or just a trade name for one of the above?

~ As W4U said, TPS is a different system. I would also suggest that any discussion about spacers must also include both aluminum and the Cardinal XL. With some 12,000,000 IGU's produced last year with aluminum spacers, it isn't something that can be ignored in a comparison of positives and negatives.
And, the XL is by far the most widely used spacer in North American; the number of units built with XL exceeds the total of all non-metallic spacers combined. Hardly something that should be ignored.

3) What area of window performance does a Spacer effect? U-factor, or air infiltration, or SHGC, fill gas leakage, or what?

~ Again, W4U hit it right on the head. The spacer will affect the windows U-value and the potential for gas leakage or dissipation and it will have no direct affect on either SHGC or air infiltration.

4) All other things being equal, how much does the spacer effect the item in question 3?

~ It really isn't the spacer directly that affects gas loss or air/moisture infiltration, rather it is the sealant used to seal the spacer in place.
Silicone, for example, is quite permeable to moisture and also the infill gasses. But, silicone is an excellent secondary or structural seal.
So, something else is used as a primary or moisture/gas seal. Polyisobutylene, or PIB, is the best primary seal currently in use. Like TPS, it has thermoplastic qualities and is virtually impermeable to moisture.
Hot melt butyl is also used as a primary seal and occasionally as the only seal in some applications because it has both sealing and structural properties. Actually, there are several Intercept users that use hot melt butyl as a single seal, but PPG does not recommend it (what I have been told).
SuperSpacer is primarily silicone and yet it does a very nice job of moisture-blocking and gas retention by using a film to cover the silicone core of the product as well as a dual seal system.
Curiously, at about 2" from the edge of the IGU, the temperature differences between the spacers (when comparing exterior to interior temperature differential) are pretty much gone - and this includes even aluminum. This is not to say that that 2" isn't important, it is, but it is an indicator that perhaps the spacer may not be quite the be-all-end-all that some folks seem to epouse.
When exterior to interior temperatures are compared when the IGU has been sealed into a window sash, the temperature differences between spacers are substantially reduced. So much so, that several testing agencies have suggested that whenever spacers are tested for energy efficiency, it should always be after the spacer has been sealed in a sash since that will be how the unit will ultimately be used.
Whew!
And, there is significant evidence that most, if not virtually all, modern seal failures are related to faulty manufacturing technique and not material failure.

Windowtech
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2004 5:26 pm
Location: Columbus, OH

Spacers

#4 Post by Windowtech »

1). It should be a prime consideration. The spacer as part of a "spacer-desiccant-sealant "system" affects the quality of the view through the glazing package, which if obscured or made less aesthetically pleasing due to moisture vapor fog, chemical fog or glass distortion, ruins the very reason that we buy windows in the first place, which is to enjoy a beautiful view.

2. TPS is a 6th or 7th type of spacer system. The others include Intercept, Swiggle, Duraseal, Super Spacer, aluminum box spacer, Azon Warm-lite, and XL-Edge. With the exception of maybe Azon, all of the others are more prevalent than is TPS in the marketplace.

3). The areas of window performance affected include: Overall window U-Values, Edge of Glass temperatures, Condensation Resistance factors, Mold Resistance, sound attenuation ratings, chemical fog resistance, argon gas retention, visible distortion, stress cracks and overall IG unit life expectancy.

4). All other things being equal, the type of spacer and the "system" employed has a great deal of influence on all of the factors explained above.

Windowman PA
Posts: 121
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 10:06 am

Read this article from Window & Door

#5 Post by Windowman PA »

:cry:

April-May-June 2002
Fear Factor
Will a New Argon Detection Device Force Window Manufacturers to Improve Their
Manufacturing Operations
-OR-
Will it Just Spurn an Onslaught of Lawsuits and Liability Issues?

By Tara Taffera

“Argon-filled.” “Argon-enhanced.” Everyone involved in the window industry is familiar with these terms. Today, Argon filling is almost a standard in the industry. While many window manufacturers may be producing Argon-filled units, in many cases that’s where the similarities end, as different plants utilize different fill methods and manufacturing processes.

Practical Measurement Tool
While window manufacturers may be putting Argon in an insulating glass (IG) unit, there has never been a practical, non-destructive way to measure how much Argon is in a unit. Until now, many manufacturers have been using the Gas Chromotograph (GC) method where a syringe is used to remove airpsace gas from a unit. It is then injected to a device that reports Argon, Nitrogen and Oxygen levels. Or, they may use the Oxygen analyzer method which takes a sample from the unit and looks for the amount of Oxygen. Both methods require a gas sample which means the unit is somehow punctured (more on these methods later.)

This lack of a practical measurement tool ended when Sparklike Ltd. of Finland introduced the GasGlass (see fall 2001 DWM, page 58). Now, window manufacturers can test exactly how much Argon is going into a unit without destroying the unit. Some industry experts believe in the product so much that they feel it should be placed on the end of every production line so each unit can be tested. It is too soon to tell if this will become a reality, but one thing is certain. The GasGlass will have a profound effect on the window and door industry in the years to come.

“This is the first practical, non-destructive test method used to determine Argon content,” said Jim Plavecsky, vice president of marketing and sales for Edgetech IG. “It’s the methodology we’ve all been looking for.”

He’s not the only one making these kinds of statements. “If we could all have our dream come true it would be to zap some units and get an accurate Argon measurement,” said John Kent, administrative manager of the Insulating Glass Certification Council (IGCC).

Kent says the IGCC has not yet purchased the device so it hasn’t been able to test the GasGlass. “The concept of what it is supposed to do is exactly what we’ve been looking for,” said Kent. “Time will tell how it plays out.”

Mark Toth of GE Silicones, and vice chair of the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) Insulated Gas Retention Task Group, has not seen the equipment either, but said, “this will separate the cream from the milk.”

One individual who truly believes in the GasGlass device is Randi Ernst, president of FDR Design Inc. in Buffalo, Minn.; FDR now serves as the U.S. representative for the product. “I’ve been a proponent of this type of product for 20 years,” he said.
According to Ernst, the GasGlass is now available for window and door manufacturers to purchase, and he says there are about a dozen of the devices floating around.

Industry Implications
According to Plavecsky, the GasGlass has huge implications for the industry. “Prior to this invention no one could tell if a unit was gas-filled because you can’t see Argon,” he said. “So, some companies may have been promoting that their units were gas-filled when they were not.”

Toth compares manufacturers who may stretch the truth about Argon filling to a prospective employee trying to spruce up his resume. “It’s like someone applying to be the coach of Notre Dame football and saying they have a Master’s degree,” said Toth. “Anyone can say that but there is no way to tell. Now each manufacturer will be held accountable.”

While Joe Almasy, senior technical service representative for Truseal Technologies, believes the GasGlass device is good for the industry because it will make manufacturers more aware of how much Argon is going in a unit, he says, “it’s even better for the
consumer.”

According to Plavecsky, the GasGlass is going to force window manufacturers to choose whether or not they want to promote their units as being gas-filled. “My guess is that if they’re not doing it right, they probably won’t do it,” he said. “Thus, the amount of companies doing gas-filling will decline.”

While Ernst believes the GasGlass will force companies to improve their manufacturing operations, he doesn’t believe it will cause any of them to stop producing Argon-filled units. “If they choose not to Argon fill they will get their hat handed to them by their competitor,” said Ernst. “If a manufacturer has promoted high-performance windows heavily for ten years how can that manufacturer now say, ‘No. I’m not going to do that.’”

Does Ernst believe that Argon not getting in the unit at all is a major problem?

“With the larger fabricators, no. They realize that in the long run, they will only get burned if they take shortcuts,” said Ernst. “The small shops are also very conscientious. I have only stumbled across a few that haven’t made an effort.”

But, many agree that some manufacturers are doing Argon filling simply because they want to market their products as “Argon-filled” or “Argon enhanced.” “A lot of companies are doing Argon filling just because it is a buzzword,” said Kent. “It’s more of a marketing tool.”

So why have many in the window industry opted to Argon fill their IG units? According to Robert Spindler, director, product development for Cardinal IG in Minneapolis, Argon filling offers a variety of benefits including: improved center of glass and total window U-factor, reduced potential for roomside (number four) condensation and improved comfort levels.

On-Line Testing
Most industry experts agree that the GasGlass will have a positive impact on the industry. “Companies that Argon fill will be forced to do it right or not do it,” said Plavecsky.

The GasGlass may be just the device the industry has been looking for to ensure window manufacturers “do it right.” Many in the industry say the GasGlass could be placed at the end of a production line to test the fill levels of IG units. In fact, Cardinal’s Spindler and Truseal’s Almasy are a few people who say they are investigating this.

But Spindler does say, “it is up to the manufacturer of the IG unit. You’ll find that reputable companies know how much Argon is going into a unit.” Almasy added, “If I were a manufacturer I would have one in my shop.”

Toth also thinks having the GasGlass at the end of a line is a good idea but says there are a variety of questions that need to be answered such as, “Would every unit be tested or just a representative sample?”

Ernst’s opinion is that each unit does not have to be tested. “You could have the GasGlass at the end of a line but you don’t have to,” he said. “This would increase the cost of a window. Other industries have found success in statistical process control, testing each tenth unit for example instead of each unit coming off the line.”

However, Ernst says that one European window manufacturer is considering putting the GasGlass at the end of a Bystronic line and testing every unit.


According to Kent, testing all Argon-filled units is prohibitive simply from a cost standpoint. “One of the reasons it won’t work now is because it is pretty expensive,” said Kent. “To test a coating on a lite of glass it only costs about $100. The GasGlass costs about $10,000. We have ten inspectors, so to give each of them one of these devices would be a sizable chunk of change.” Ernst concedes that it would be expensive to outfit all inspectors with a GasGlass device. “If the certification process means field inspectors all need a GasGlass, sure that will add some cost to the process,” he said. “But $10,000 is pretty minor when you consider that the device is being shared by dozens of companies undergoing inspection. If an inspector can do one plant a week that is 50 inspections a year. The costs just dropped to $200 assuming you throw the GasGlass away at the end of the year.”
While the IGCC, and other testing organizations, may not be able to afford it Kent says many window manufacturers may also be unable to do so. “For some manufacturers it wouldn’t be a problem,” said Kent. “For others it’s a huge expense.

Test results are displayed on a Palm "PDA" style device called an iPaq.
Looming Liability Issues
While window manufacturers will be able to purchase the GasGlass, Mike Burk, GED’s productivity solutions program manager points out, “manufacturers can get them but so can the lawyers.” This makes many in the industry fear that a host of lawsuits and other liability issues will arise.

“Class action lawsuits don’t help the industry,” said Ernst. “Quality is the real issue. You really have to make an effort to make a quality product.”

Ernst also believes it is unfair to judge a product that was made ten years ago, for example. “We know a lot now that we didn’t know earlier,” he said. “It’s not fair to judge those manufacturers who didn’t have a lot of the knowledge we now have. There should be a moratorium because we didn’t know some information then.”

Ernst drives this point home by pointing to the automotive industry. For example, ten years ago many cars didn’t have air bags, while today they are almost standard. Were manufacturers malicious by not putting air bags in all vehicles? Of course not, answers Ernst. But, using the knowledge they have today, the makers decided to make air bags commonplace.

Ernst said that a “consultant” in Quebec has obtained a GasGlass directly from Finland and received a contract from a builder to check all incoming units on a commercial project. “Checking for gas fill is just one of the many things he will check on,” said Ernst. “It would be in the industry’s best interest to make sure they know what they are producing. Things have been done in such a sloppy haphazard way in the past that consumers are starting to lose faith in the industry to provide what was ordered. While perhaps this is good for consultants (and lawyers) this is not the reputation we want our industry to have. One where we will only provide you what you asked for—if you make us.”

Ernst admits that a class action lawsuit against the window and door industry truly scares him, especially since it has hit almost every other industry. “It’s frightening to think about,” he said.

Putting it to the Test
Hopefully, lawyers will not be the ones using the GasGlass. In the hands of the right people (window manufacturers), the GasGlass can be a valuable tool. While it can test IG units to see how much Argon is in a unit, it can also take a unit through accelerated aging and can project out how long the seal will last. “For manufacturers that’s an exciting thing,” said Ernst.

A few different companies in the industry are testing the GasGlass. Edgetech used the device to test a variety of IG units that had been Argon-filled. These units were obtained from a third-party commercial fabricator who had no knowledge of the test program, according to Plavecsky. Edgetech tested six Intercept units, six Super Spacer units and six Swiggle units. The units were then checked each week using the GasGlass to determine the Argon content.

After ten weeks of high humidity testing for initial Argon fill and retention, Edgetech’s Super Spacer and TruSeal’s Swiggle maintained well over a 90 percent fill rate. However, the Intercept units started at an 88-percent fill rate and after ten weeks dropped to a 74-percent fill rate. The units were also subjected to ten weeks of P1 tests. All units dropped to under the 90-percent rate: Super Spacer hit a low of 82; Intercept 70; and Swiggle 58.

Plavecsky did add, though, that workmanship issues could have played a role in the test results.

In fact, Burk disagrees with these results. He says the company’s Intercept spacers pass the DIN1286 test which uses the GC method to determine Argon loss over time. “The gas loss of Intercept IG units has been determined to be less than 1 percent per year,” said Burk. “I do not believe that the comparisons shown on the Edgetech presentation are credible or valid.”

Ernst, of course, has also used the GasGlass to perform his own tests. He admitted to being a little nervous before testing the windows at FDR’s headquarters in Minnesota. “I tested three units in my office first and breathed a sigh of relief,” said Ernst. The windows, which were 10 to 11 years old and purchased at a lumberyard yielded results of 90/92/94 percent fill levels. “After 11 Minnesota winters, the average is 90.6 for all 40 units,” said Ernst.

Spindler said that Cardinal has also been conducting tests with the GasGlass for more than a year in an attempt to determine the repeatability and accuracy of the equipment. Spindler said Cardinal took known gas concentrations that were certified. He then measured the accuracy of the GasGlass with those fill levels and compared that to the GC. “The GasGlass was found to be fairly accurate at levels of 80 percent and above with an accuracy of 2 to 3 percent,” he said. “There is still a lot of work required by the industry to make certain that this measuring device is reliable, accurate and gives similar readings from instrument to instrument.”

Certification Programs/Argon Standards
So what do the different associations and their corresponding certification programs and standards say about Argon? At IGMA, manufacturers must achieve a 90-percent average Argon fill level. Ten samples are tested every four years. If a manufacturer does not meet the requirements they cannot use the IGMA label on units.

“We’re [IGCC] taking a different approach,” said Kent. “We’re asking companies what their targeted fill level is and we validate that target.” The IGCC tests four production units and the manufacturer must be within 3 percent of that level for Argon certification.

While Argon has been a big issue for organizations such as IGMA and the IGCC, Toth feels that “AAMA is a latecomer to the dance.” He said that while at one time Argon filling was an option, it has now become more of a standard in the industry as more window manufacturers choose to Argon fill. For this reason, Toth said AAMA is starting to take a close look at the issue.

“Our intent is to look at existing studies and corroborate testing,” said Toth. “So far, the testing we have done has been voluntary. He said AAMA testing thus far has looked at the correlation between construction and short-term performance. Toth said the committee may now look at other types of testing. “We’re exploring alternative ways of Argon fill and retention,” he said. “Ideally, AAMA would come up with an Argon standard that addressed issues such as fill rate and test methods.”

So while various organizations may test for fill level, Ernst believes the GasGlass could be used as part of the certification process by governing bodies such as IGCC, AAMA, NFRC and IGMA. But, would this raise certification costs? Ernst said it depends on how this is done. He says that in IGMA’s case the $10,000 GasGlass would replace a $50,000 Mass Spec GC. “Using the Mass Spec GC it takes a full eight-hour day to test a batch of 20 sample units,” said Ernst. “The GasGlass can do the same 20 units in less than an hour. The GC test also destroyed the unit by plunging a hole through the sealant.”

In the case of the IGCC, they use Oxygen analyzers. Using this test method, a sample is pulled from the unit to look for the amount of Oxygen. That number is then multiplied by 4.78 to come up with the Nitrogen and Oxygen. That number is then subtracted from 100 to get the fill percentage.

“You can see how a small inaccuracy in the Oxygen reading can swing the results of the calculated fill percentage,” said Ernst. “The advantage is the Oxygen test equipment is less expensive and simpler to run.” He adds that a mass spec GC will cost in the $35,000 to $50,000 range and needs a technician to run it. Conversely, an Oxygen analyzer costs $4,000 to $10,000 depending on accuracy and what options you buy with it, and it is very simple to run. While a GC needs to pretty much stay on the lab bench, Ernst said that the Oxygen analyzers are reasonably portable. “Both methods require a gas sample which means the unit is somehow punctured,” said Ernst.

HIGS Standard
ASTM Task Group E 06.22.05 is working on putting together test methods and specifications for the Harmonized Insulating Glass Standard (HIGS). According to Milind Jhaveri, R & D project manager for Edgetech IG, and member of the above ASTM task group, the HIGS standard is a proposed test standard to replace/combine the current ASTM E773/774 and the CGSB 12.8 M-97 test standards. This group has been working on development of the HIGS standard for the past six years. There are three documents that the task group is working on, which Jhaveri said composes the meat of the proposed HIGS standard. These include:

1. Test for IG unit durability performance;

2. Test for IG unit fogging performance; and

3. Test for IG specification.

According to Jhaveri, all negatives have been withdrawn, which moves all three documents forward for a vote by the Committee on Standards to review how any negatives were handled. If there are no appeals, then the documents become standards soon.
The task group is also working on two additional documents, “Standard Test Method for Determining the Concentration of Fill Gas in a Sealed Insulating Glass Unit Using an Oxygen Analyzer” and “Standard Test Method for Determining Argon Concentration in a Sealed Insulating Glass Unit Using Gas Chromotagraphy.” Jhaveri said there has been much discussion about the GasGlass device but adds that the product is too new to look at as a test method at this point.

It is also important to note that this task group is only working on a test method on how to determine the fill and or Argon concentration in a unit. “How much the fill should be will be left to certifying bodies such as the IGCC,” says Jhaveri.
Although the committee is close to adoption of the HIGS standard, their work is far from over. “Argon retention is also on the ASTM priority list,” said Jhaveri.

Workmanship
Although the GasGlass now offers a practical way to ensure Argon is getting into an IG unit, that does not mean the unit is not flawed. Experts in the industry agree that workmanship issues also play a role. For example, even if 90-percent Argon is put in a unit, the Argon may escape over time due to poor workmanship of the unit. Look to the next issue of DWM/BCM for information from the industry’s experts concerning how to design an Argon-filled IG unit properly.

IG Product Spotlight
Filling Made Easy
Spadix Technologies Inc. of Middlesex, N.J., offers an argon gas-filling machine. The system features four-station single or simultaneous operation, adjustable flow controls for each station and a timed system with flow chart, according to the company.

The machine is 30 by 24 by 8 inches, and offers an optional stand with space for two tanks.

Quik-Dose Means Quick Results
TruSeal Technologies of Beachwood, Ohio, and equipment manufacturer Besten Inc. of Cleveland joined forces to create Quik-Dose™, a semi-automatic machine that fills insulating glass (IG) units with liquid gas fillings such as Argon and Krypton. According to Truseal, the new technology reduces unit-dosing time during the IG manufacturing process from two minutes to five-and-a-half seconds by injecting liquid gas. The company adds that this product will also reduce gas costs for IG manufacturers.

By filling units with liquid argon, TruSeal says IG volumes of gas are injected quickly to the bottom of a unit, via gravity, with less waste and turbulence effects otherwise associated with conventional methods.

Once Argon contacts the sill edge of a vented IG unit, TruSeal says the liquid boils into a gaseous state, displacing the lighter, moist air that leaves through the top edge’s perimeter vent. The heavier gas fills from the bottom up with very little turbulence, the company adds.

Improved Intercept Features for Fabricators
GED of Twinsburg, Ohio, says its Intercept® IG fabrication system just got better. According to the company, the product has been redesigned for overall improved system performance and reliability. Some of the features include quick troubleshooting capability, a modular control system which allows quick set up and start-up and status indicators at the control system which provide instant diagnostic and problem-solving information.

The Intercept system can produce 3,000 units per each eight-hour shift and uses one-piece spacers to produce structurally strong units with warm-edge technology, according to the company.







Setting the Standard

Building Quality IG Units with a TPS System
by MARCEL BALLY
Ever since its introduction at the glasstec exhibition in 1996, Thermo Plastic Spacer (TPS) was riding a wave of success in Europe, even in the face of initially adverse economic conditions. There are now approximately 30 TPS systems operating worldwide, making everyone wonder why insulating glass (IG) units were not made that way all along. Now that there are two TPS systems up and running for well over a year in the United States (one for residential and one for commercial applications) it is the right time to explore the concept and its ramifications in greater detail.

Revolutionizing the Industry
TPS turned out to be a revolution for the industry. The non-metallic TPS spacer provides the highest degree of thermal insulation in the edge zone, resulting in an even temperature distribution across the entire window surface for the ultimate occupant comfort.

Also of interest to the consumer, the TPS material ensures a gas retention rate that is significantly better than the industry standard of 1 percent loss per year. Incidentally, our gas-filling system, integrated in the assembly and press machine, achieves gas-fill levels consistently better than 97 percent. The life of the unit, based on scientific test results, is anywhere between 80 and 300 years. Additionally, the black spacer is to reflect the colors of the window frame on the glass, thereby making the spacer practically invisible.

Benefits to IG Manufacturers
However, it is primarily the manufacturer who stands to gain from TPS.

TPS is a true dual-seal unit with the TPS spacer being the primary seal and either polysulfide, polyurethane or silicone the secondary seal. TPS units are manufactured on a vertical line comparable to a conventional line, except that the TPS applicator is installed between the inspection station and the press. The entire line consists of a washing mach-ine, an inspection station, the TPS applicator, the press and a secondary sealing robot. Of particular interest here is the application of the TPS spacer.

The TPS material is a butyl-based formulation containing desiccants and ultraviolet ray inhibitors. It comes from a 55-gallon drum and is applied directly onto the glass by a computer-driven extrusion nozzle. The process is in-line—meaning no separate spacer fabrication and application is necessary.

The computer-controlled spacer application permits processing of any shape including rectangles, with different spacer heights between 1/16 to 3/4 inches. Units may be as small as 7½ by 13¾ inches and as large as 106 by 160 inches, with or without gas filling, produced in any sequence without interruption. All this is possible on one line, with a consistent high quality, all with a minimum of labor. One person is needed to load the glass (if this is not automatic), one to off-load the finished IG units and one to enter the production data, possibly observe the line function in general and occasionally change the drums of the TPS material and of the secondary sealing compound.
In addition to regular dual-lite IG units, TPS permits processing of triple units with perfectly congruent spacers; as well as of units with stepped edges on one, two, three or even four sides. TPS also is suitable as edge seal for cast resin laminated glass.

Industry Firsts
TPS makes it possible for the first time to perform the entire IG production in-line. The headache of inventorying different spacer material, connectors, dessicant, etc.; fabricating the spacer frames; then desiccant filling, butyl coating and matching them with the glass, is now only a memory of a bad dream.

In another first for the industry, TPS makes it possible to produce structural silicone-sealed commercial IG units with gas filling. TPS also holds that gas at the criteria of less than 1 percent loss per year.

A TPS line is so versatile that it is able to produce conventional IG units on the very same line. Metallic butyl-coated spacers may be applied at the inspection station and run through the line for assembly, pressing, gas-filling and sealing without stopping at the TPS applicator.

Though the initial cost for a TPS line is higher than a conventional manufacturing system, the investment is recovered in a relatively short time. Factors contributing to the favorable payback projection include savings in material and labor, reduction in inventory carrying costs and waste, as well as simplified material and production management in general. Additionally, a TPS line occupies less factory space than a conventional machine configuration.

As IG producers who use TPS have experienced, being able to offer and promote an end product with the TPS specific, unique attributes, makes the manufacturer of TPS units a strong market leader.



Marcel Bally is sales and marketing director, Glass Processing Systems Division for Bystronic Inc., based in Hauppauge, N.Y.


DWM
© Copyright Key Communications Inc. All rights reserved. No reproduction of any type without expressed written permission.
:cry:

windowshopper
Posts: 144
Joined: Fri Oct 08, 2004 7:04 am

Spacer question

#6 Post by windowshopper »

Is the Cardinal its own spacer system or is it part of another system. I have only seen two systems Squiggle on Diamond windows and every other window I have seen seems to have the intercept. Does anyone know what brands have the Cardinal?

Cheryl (Fenessa)
Posts: 32
Joined: Wed Oct 27, 2004 3:05 pm
Location: California

#7 Post by Cheryl (Fenessa) »

Cardinal CG has it's own spacer system - XL-Edge. They make approximately 16 million insulated units per year, and edge-delete every one, according to their technical representative.

Windowman PA
Posts: 121
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 10:06 am

Cardianl Glass

#8 Post by Windowman PA »

Cardianl makes glass for Andesen along with most production type windows. why only a 20 year warranty if it's so goooood!

earwax
Posts: 305
Joined: Mon Nov 15, 2004 4:52 am
Location: West Coast

#9 Post by earwax »

Cardinal warrants their glass for 20 so the window manufacturer can recuop cost of fixing if it fails. Most window manufacturers that use the Cardinal IG's warrant for life.

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