When Mirit Glas produces glass for Sanovo Technology Group, the glass must be approved for food production and meet explosion-proof safety requirements.
Some types of glass are subject to significantly higher requirements than others. Recently, Mirit Glas welcomed a visit from our customer, Sanovo Technology Group, for whom we manufacture glass that must be suitable both for food production (FKM-approved) and for use in what is classified as an explosive atmosphere (ATEX).
“This is not the first time we have supplied glass intended for use in ATEX environments. However, the combination of food-approved glass and ATEX compliance is new to us. We see this as an exciting challenge, as it lies at the heart of our business to take on new tasks we haven’t handled before. We want to be able to produce exactly the glass our customers need,” says Johan Stenfeldt Hansen, Sales Manager at Mirit Glas.
Sanovo Technology Group requests glass with these combined properties because the company manufactures food production equipment. This production equipment must handle, among other things, flour and powdered eggs — substances where, under very unfortunate circumstances, there is a potential risk of explosion.
It is therefore natural that Sanovo Technology Group wants to ensure that the glass used in their production facilities, manufactured by Mirit Glas, complies with the strict ATEX standards designed to protect employees working in potentially explosive environments.
The purpose of the visit was to allow our customer to see firsthand that Mirit Glas’ production facilities are fully capable of handling the manufacturing of these specialized glass components required for their systems.
Formally, this meant that Karen, Birthe, and Daniel from Sanovo Technology Group, together with Production Manager Keld Lauridsen and Johan Stenfeldt Hansen from Mirit Glas, first conducted a thorough review of the documentation and processes involved in the manufacturing of the glass.
Afterwards, the representatives from Sanovo were given a tour of the production facilities, where they could see the entire process firsthand — from when the raw materials arrived to when the finished glass was packed and shipped.
Following the meeting, Sanovo Technology Group expressed their satisfaction with Mirit Glas as a supplier — a statement that delighted Johan Stenfeldt Hansen, Sales Manager at Mirit Glas.
“As a supplier of industrial glass, Mirit Glas primarily manufactures glass to be used in other manufacturers’ solutions. That is why it is particularly important for us that our customers can trust us to deliver glass that meets their requirements,” he emphasizes.
Mirit Glas, which is ISO-certified and holds Food Contact Material (FKM) approval, takes collaboration with customers seriously. Therefore, Mirit Glas also considers it an important part of the business to allow a partner like Sanovo Technology Group to conduct an audit, demonstrating that Mirit Glas can produce the right glass with the right specifications.
“We are very aware that when our industrial customers order glass, it needs to fit into a solution. That’s why we are always happy to collaborate to ensure that the customer receives the right glass that perfectly matches their needs,” Johan Stenfeldt Hansen concludes.
ATEX is designed to protect employees working in environments with an explosion risk.
For some companies, safety is of utmost importance because there may be a risk of explosions in parts of the production process. Therefore, the EU has introduced two so-called ATEX directives to ensure the safety of both employees and production.
ATEX is an abbreviation of “Appareils destinés à être utilisés en ATmosphères EXplosives”, which roughly translates to “Equipment intended for use in explosive atmospheres.”
FKM – Food Contact Materials – ensures non-toxic production.
To prevent hazardous substances from coming into contact with food, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration requires that products labeled FKM comply with general legal requirements for food safety. Mirit Glas is FKM-approved, meaning we can supply glass with full traceability and documentation proving that the glass does not release lead, plasticizers, amines, or other harmful substances when used in food production.
