Glass factory in Kyrgyzstan does not cut production despite pandemic

The Tokmok glass factory in Kyrgyzstan, and in a pandemic, has not reduced production. Although the company faced a shortage of raw materials, the furnaces continued to operate. How the work is organized and where the products go, says Maya Smekhova, correspondent for MIR 24.

This stove the size of a two-story house has been brewing glass 24 hours a day for eight years without stopping. The temperature inside is 1400 degrees. If production is interrupted, everything will harden and restarting will not be possible. Glass production technology is considered one of the most complex.

“In this unit, glass tape is being molded, which you see. It flows into a liquid melt, spreads out, special machines still additionally stretch out and a continuous glass tape of a given thickness and width comes out, ”said Mirlan Keresheev, chief technologist of the glassworks.

600 tons of glass melt are produced here per day. Transparent cloth of a given thickness is checked for quality by both people and cars. Defective pieces will be broken and sent back to the oven, and high-quality pieces will be cut to the desired size and packaged.

The plant began to work in Soviet times. After the enterprise became bankrupt several times, it was resold until production fell into the hands of German investors. And if earlier only showcase glass was produced here, now the range is much wider.

“We produce double-glazed windows, windows, also tempered glass and laminated glass, as well as triplex,” said Andrei Tynarts, commercial director of the glassworks.

The plant buys almost all raw materials abroad. When the pandemic began, stocks remained for two months. If the transportation of goods had not been allowed during this time, the consequences could have been unpredictable.

“When the borders were closed, we experienced minor complications, difficulties in supplying both raw materials to us and with the sale of our products. But then the relations were again established, money transfers, transfers and shipping products by rail. We all somehow survived this, ”shared the director general of the glassworks, Zhenishbek Zhanybekov.

This company employs 1300 people. 95% of the products are exported, the rest remains in Kyrgyzstan. But for some reason, Tokmok glass is not in demand in the domestic market, although it is not inferior to imported either in price or quality.

Working at full capacity, the Tokmok glass factory can produce 18 million square meters of glass per year.

Source: https://mir24.tv/