The Pilkington Sweden SK1 float line began production in 1976. 2 Million tonnes of glass were produced by SK1 during its first non-stop float run from 1976 to 1986 when the first cold repair was undertaken.

The second non-stop float run from 1986 to 1999 produced an amazing 3.1 Million tonnes of float glass!

The 1999 cold repair on SK1 was at a cost of £24.5m and took three months to complete.

Click images below for a larger picture.

 

	Production ends during the night and the furnace on SK1, Sweden, is drained of glass through large holes drilled in its side. The glass flow is then conveyed outside, cooled, granulated and transported to the cullet store.
	The warehouse appears bare after equipment and mechanical components are removed to be replaced or refurbished.
	The furnace is inspected for faults before being demolished
	Everything above the tank house floor level is demolished. Below floor level the chamber walls remain but the checker work is replaced. A mechanical digger removes the bricks.
	After the bath is cool and parts of the roof lifted, the bath bottom bricks are replaced.
	One regenerator chamber is completely excavated and rebuilding begins. Initially the rider arches are installed. These carry the weight of the checker work in the chamber.
	The final block is installed in the new bath bottom.
	Roof tiles and heating elements in the bath are replaced.
	Rebuilding the furnace crown supported by a wooden frame-work. This is the same technology used by the Romans for bridge building 2,000 years ago.
	Work on the furnace is almost complete.
	The 95m high steel chimney liner is hoisted into place in sections. Enviromental legislation is met with the installation of a sulphur scrubber and electrostatic precipitator and a waste heat boiler is also installed.
	Nearly there....most of the new cold end equipment is now installed.
	On stream....the cold repair is complete and SK1 is up and running!