New Pontus GBF reduces glass mould fire hazard

Pontus GBF is a new generation scoop / gob accelerator lubricant which boasts outstanding health and safety attributes, superior lubrication properties and ultra low carbon forming tendencies

Batoyle Freedom Group has just announced the launch of Pontus GBF, the new generation scoop / gob accelerator lubricant which boasts outstanding health and safety attributes, superior lubrication properties and ultra low carbon forming tendencies.

Engineered for glass container manufacturers, Pontus GBF is a fully synthetic, ash-less, water based formula which dramatically reduces the fire hazard traditionally experienced when using a conventional mineral oil based lubricant in scoop and gob accelerator application.

Some twenty years experience of formulating specialist production fluids for the glass container industry has accumulated into the development of Pontus GBF, which now joins the established range of Pontus delivery equipment lubricants.

Pontus GBF pushes the boundaries of current scoop lubricant technology by virtue of its water based 'non-flammable' fully synthetic formula which eliminates the instantaneous flash created as the hot glass gob strikes the lubricant in the production process.

It is very common for the fluid to ignite with a flash fire when a traditional lubricant comes into contact with the glass gob where flash points of approximately 200C are the norm.

The potential fire hazard associated with this effect is highly visible during the lubricant delivery process.

Pontus GBF has been especially formulated to eliminate this flashing effect - a result readily observed in field trials.

Over 12 months of field testing clearly demonstrated that Pontus GBF dramatically reduces the fire risk around the IS machine whilst simultaneously improving health and safety.

Field trials further demonstrated the Pontus GBF capabilities to improve gob loading and reduce the lubricant consumption on average from between 30 and 50%.

This particular benefit led to substantial reductions in the amount of overspray present in the atmosphere around the IS machines.

Extended maintenance schedules have also proven to be possible when using Pontus GBF due to its extremely low levels of soft carbon residue formation.

Such characteristics, matched with the biodegradability of Pontus GBF, have been identified as major environmental and health and safety benefits by glass container manufacturers trialling Pontus GBF.

Allied Glass Containers UK, a premier glass bottle manufacturer, has played an integral role in the development and trialling of the innovative Pontus GBF.

At their Knottingley manufacturing facility, Pontus GBF has undergone rigorous field testing and monitoring.

Alan Henderson, the Production Director at Allied Glass Containers, Knottingley commented: "One of the most serious hazards any glass container manufacturer faces is the risk of fire; and we are always aware of the disastrous consequences that could result.

We were very interested to work with Batoyle in the development and trialling of a 'non-flammable' lubricant which would greatly reduce the fire risks associated with the production of glass.

Field testing Pontus GBF quickly established that the flashing effect inherent when a lubricant comes into contact with the glass gob could be eliminated.

However, this was not the only benefit we discovered in our trials.

The scoops have proven to stay much cleaner with reduced levels of soft carbon residues experienced.

As a result, subsequent cleaning of the machine has been made much easier.

Furthermore we believe that less build up of carbon in the scoop is bound to result in better gob loading.

Pontus GBF is certainly one innovation that we will be holding onto in our manufacture of glass containers!" Pontus GBF is now available in 205 litre drums or 1,000 litre containers.

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