Versatile Machinery: Precision Across All Applications
For over 75 years, Billco Manufacturing has been an industry leader in the development of innovate flat glass machinery, providing cutting-edge solutions across all sectors of the flat glass industry. From automotive and architectural glass to photovoltaic, furniture, and aerospace, Billco continuously broadens their capabilities to meet the evolving demands of customers.
Architecture and Construction
The architecture and construction sectors are the biggest user of flat glass. This expansive market covers a variety of applications from windows, facades, to interior design elements such as railings and floors. As the demand for natural light, sleek aesthetics, and energy efficiency grows, flat glass shapes both residential and industrial building.
Technological developments, such as Low-E coating improve energy efficiency by minimizing heat transfer, leading to lower energy costs. More control over privacy and natural light are possible with innovations like switchable privacy glass, which can transition from transparent to opaque at a touch of a button. Large floor-to-ceiling glass installations are pushing machines to new levels, requiring advanced manufacturing techniques and processes to maintain accuracy and met safety requirements.
For large applications, such as skyscrapers and other expansive facades, the transportation of glass lites through the production process is critical. The Billco Teams Unstacker is engineered to position and transfers glass lites to the cutting line with ease. The system integrates seamlessly into any production setup, increasing operational speed and efficiency. Its multi-stage vacuum cups securely hold glass at any size, allowing manufactures to work with both large and small lites without risk of breakage. This system is essential for enhancing productivity, particularly in large-scale projects where precision and speed create consistent quality in a reduced timeframe.
Homeowners are embracing modern design trends with features like glass floors, railings, and other structural elements have become a trend in modern architecture, contributing to sleek, sophisticated designs. The glass industry faces new difficulties as a result of these trends, which require thicker, stronger glass that can sustain heavy loads and adhere to strict safety standards. Billco is staying ahead of the curve, adapting to the ever-evolving market demands by consistently innovating its machinery and solutions.
The Billco Heat Press is an example of the company’s commitment to high quality glass for architectural projects. This machine heats and presses spacer materials and insulating glass (IG) units, making it perfect for creating a variety of window types. Its automatic adjusting roll thickness interpretation ensures that even large lites, such as those used for glass floors or other high impact areas can pass through the machine without risk of damage. The heat press is designed with the customer and environmental impact in mind. Billco’s patented conventional bulb system reduces power requirements, making it cost effective solution for any workshop, while still delivering the performance required for high-end glass products.
As long-lasting, quality glass continues to be a staple in architecture and construction, its use in creating open, spacious with unobstructed views is increasingly popular. Through the use of proper equipment, glass manufactures can provide windows and facades that not only meet aesthetic and functional specifications but also withstand environmental stresses.
Automotive and Transportation
Flat glass continues to be a vital component in the automotive sector, producing windshields, mirrors, side windows, and sunroofs. Driven by the advancement in technology and demand for value-added products, automotive glass has evolved significantly. Laminated glass, which is widely used in windshield, is constructed of layered glass with an interlayer of plastic to enable the glass to remain intact in the event of breakage. However, creating safer glass is just the beginning of windshield innovation. Heating and solar control coatings are added to prevent fogging and icing to ensure clear visibility. Solar control glass reduces heat gain and improves energy efficiency within automobiles, which is a critical feature for electric vehicles (EVs) that aim to maximize range. Heat insulating glass maintains a consistent interior temperature, reducing the burden on the air conditioning and heating systems and thereby improving battery and range efficiency. EVs also introduced larger glass surfaces in design, such as panoramic sunroofs and solar panel roofs.
Billco’s machinery ensures precision, cleanliness and the ability to accommodate the latest automotive technologies. The 310 Z-Series Washing System plays a role in preparing the glass for lamination and coating applications. Prior to laminating or coatings like solar control the glass must be thoroughly cleaned for proper adhesion and visibility. The 310 Z-Series features five cleaning zones, optimizing the cleaning process to ensure spotless glass. Built with ease of maintenance in mind, the four-corner flip top quick access to key components, keeping the machine in peak condition for high quality results. The washer is equipped with DI/RO Water Filtration System to purify all water used in the cleaning process, preventing ions from leaving spots and streaks on glass once it dries.
Addition add on features, such as the BillcoDose system, automatically administers and maintains detergent in the wash tank, ensuring consistent and optimal cleaning performance. The Low-E Detection system to help identify improperly placed conductive-coated glass on the conveyor. This system alerts operators when glass is not correctly aligned, reducing errors in the process and improving overall operational efficiency.
Photovoltaic and Solar
As renewable energy trends continues to gain traction, solar glass and photovoltaic (PV) panels are leading the way. A type of specialized glass called, photovoltaic glass encapsulates solar cells that coverts sun light into electricity. In addition to being utilized for traditional rooftop applications, solar cells are increasingly being integrated into a wide range of environments, including car roofs, residential windows, and building facades. Photovoltaic glass allows sunlight to penetrate and power the solar components. The glass layer acts as a protective layer to shield the components from the natural elements, such as dust, moisture, and debris. To function effectively, the glass must be completely clear of contaminants to ensure maximum light transmission.
Billco’s Versa Clean Washer provides an unmatched solution for meeting the stringent cleanliness standards required in solar glass manufacturing. The Versa Clean ensures optimal light transmission and excellent adhesion for coatings. It also features low-maintenance design elements that support high productivity. For example, its snap-out bearing mounts allow rolls, brushes, and spray lines to be changed in just minutes and slide out tanks with quick disconnect fittings, minimizing downtime and keeping production lines clean. Billco offers customizable configurations tailored to each manufacturer’s solar production process, including soft brush types that protect delicate surfaces and options for handling small and large format glass. By ensuring each sheet of glass is clean, clear, and coating-ready, the Billco Versa Clean plays a vital role in delivering high-quality, high-efficiency solar panels.
Furniture
Creating elegant, timeless pieces that elevate any space often begins with flat glass. From simple tabletops and shelves to mirrors and cabinets, glass furniture adds an openness, sophistication and lightness. The design flexibility of glass furniture is enhanced by its ability to be customized with tints, frosts and textures. While glass is visually appealing, it requires strength to withstand regular use, thus innovative glass technology plays an important role in creating reliable furniture solutions. Laminated glass provides both added strength and design possibilities, making it ideal for furniture applications. The interlayers used in laminated glass allow for a range of visual effects, including tints and textures. Polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayers can be produced in a variety of colors, delivering a uniform tint that enhances aesthetics, provides privacy and offers solar control. Translucent frosted interlayers, such as Saflex DG Structural, create a frosted appearance that diffuses light while maintaining privacy, making it ideal for cabinet doors or decorative panels.
To support the production of high-quality laminated glass for furniture, Billco’s Laminating Line delivers a comprehensive, efficient solution. The system integrates cleaning, assembly, laminating, heating, and pre-pressing into a single streamlined process, accelerating the preparation of glass lites prior to lamination. A standout feature is its Infrared (IR) Heating Technology, which precisely controls temperature distribution, ensuring the laminate is applied uniformly across the glass surface. Consistent, even heating is critical for producing durable laminated glass that retains its aesthetic integrity under daily wear and weight. Billco’s Lami Line is engineered to produce laminated glass lites with the strength and resilience required for modern furniture applications without sacrificing visual appeal.
Aerospace
Aerospace applications demand maximum performance and safety, with glass components that can withstand rough conditions. Cockpit windshields, canopies, windows, mirrors, and lens covers have to endure high-pressure environments, temperature fluctuations, and intense vibration stress. To meet those demands tempered and laminated glass are commonly used in aerospace applications. Laminated glass consists of multiple layers that resists cracking and holds together when shattered. In addition it is highly effective in absorbing vibrations, ensuring that windows and the cockpit maintain their durability and clarity. Beyond basic strength, aerospace glass also incorporates additional features such as anti- glare coatings, UV protection and even bulletproofing. Anti-glare coatings help to guarantee that pilots and passengers have clear, unimpeded views, while UV protection shield against dangerous radiation, enhancing safety and comfort. In certain uses, such as military or high-security aircraft, bulletproof glass is required to provide further defense from external threats, offering both transparency and security.
Billco offers a range of equipment designed to optimize efficiency, reduce errors, and maintain consistent throughout production. One key product in the aerospace field is the Ultra Series Cutting System, which is engineered to deliver precise cuts. The patented MagnaDrive system and Z-95 cutting head ensure each cut is executed with optimal pressure and control. Precision is essential in the aerospace industry, where the smallest deviation in size or shape can affect safety, functionality. The Ultra Series features automatic height adjustments improving cycle times and reducing the need for operator intervention. This automated process reduced the risk of errors, streamlining production and increasing output quality. With this automation Billco’s system can accommodate a wide range of glass sizes, making it a versatile solution for aviation cockpits and windows of any model.
Conclusion
Billco continues to lead the flat glass industry’s evolution by providing versatile, precision-engineered machinery designed to meet the unique demands of every market. From architecture to aerospace, Billco offers high-quality solutions to help manufacturers meet modern standards of durability, functionality, and design. Billco not only leads the way in innovation but also backs it with unmatched customer support. Our dedicated team is available 24 | 7 | 365 days a year, to help you troubleshoot, optimize, and innovate, so your machinery keeps performing at its peak. Billco can create any machine you have in mind for your manufacturing line, keeping you ahead of the constantly changing glass market.
