Polotsk-Steklovolokno commissioned a new single-stage fiberglass production workshop

August 20, Minsk / Irina Aniskevich - BELTA /. A new single-stage fiberglass production workshop has been commissioned at Polotsk-Steklovolokno Open Joint Stock Company. This was reported to BELTA correspondent by the chief engineer of the enterprise, Grigory Korolev. The commissioning of a glass-melting furnace with an annual capacity of 15.7 thousand meters of yarn will increase the output volume by 136.2%. It is planned that the workshop will reach its design capacity in October of this year. The investment project is one of the most important in the enterprise's development program for 2006-2010 and is being implemented to increase the production volume of fiberglass, commodity textile yarns, and glass fabrics. According to the chief engineer, the new workshop uses the most modern equipment, which will increase profitability through savings in natural gas, as fiberglass and glass yarn production is very energy-intensive - the melting temperature of the batch is 1.5 thousand degrees. The glass-melting process in the furnace is automated - the control and management system maintains the main parameters of the technological process. With the commissioning of this workshop, the quality of products will also improve. For example, fiberglass is produced in the new equipment in three strands, and winding machines ensure the required yarn length in the package. Also, a new protective emulsion is used in the production process, which protects the glass yarn from destruction during its further processing. Polotsk-Steklovolokno OJSC is part of the Belneftekhim concern and is an integrated enterprise that combines the technological processes of raw material processing, glass melting, fiberglass production and its textile processing, finishing of glass fabrics, and manufacturing of fiberglass plastics. It specializes in the production of fiberglass and products made from it - electrical insulating and structural glass fabrics, construction and thermal insulation materials, silica products, and its structural unit "Steklokompozit" specializes in the production of fishing rods, kayaks, boats, and other fiberglass products. Almost 90% of the products are exported - the enterprise supplies products to 45 countries. The first stage of Polotsk-Steklovolokno was commissioned in 1958. In 2003, the production association was transformed into an OJSC. The state owns a controlling stake. Over 4.5 thousand people work at the enterprise. -0-