Is your company facing new challenges? Chances are that by choosing the right electrotechnologies, you could meet or even exceed your business objectives.

Whether you must adapt your products to new quality standards or market trends or gain better control over your manufacturing cycles, unit costs or plant's energy efficiency, Hydro-Québec can help you!

Our experts are well positioned to understand your needs and expectations in the area of electrotechnologies and industrial processes. They will work with you to develop and implement a made-to-measure solution designed to maximize the benefits for your company.

Batch preparation

Dehumidifying raw materials

	Electrotechnologies Benefits Induction screw Very high energy efficiency Extremely precise temperature control Infrared (IR) Very high energy efficiency Short heating times Suitable for controlled-atmosphere treatment Can be easily adapted to work with existing equipment Heat pump Highly efficient: coefficient of performance (COP) ranging between 3 and 5 1 kWh of electricity can produce the equivalent of 3 to 5 kWh of thermal energy.

Glass production: melting and refining

All-electric melting

	Electrotechnologies Benefits Induction furnace Very high energy efficiency Extremely precise temperature control More homogeneous melt as a result of electromagnetic mixing No combustion gases Can be easily adapted to work with existing equipment Electric resistance furnace Simple heating system that's economical to buy and operate Precise temperature control Consistently high quality Products are free of contaminants since there are no combustion gases Sturdy construction Suitable for controlled-atmosphere treatment

Hybrid melting

	Electrotechnologies Benefits Fuel-fired melting furnaces equipped with electric resistances Production can be increased cost-effectively by adding electric resistances to existing fuel-fired melting furnaces

Refining

	Electrotechnologies Benefits Electric resistance (conduction) High energy conversion efficiency Low specific consumption (kWh/kg) Negligible waste of material Facilitates specialty glass manufacturing Process can be automated Compact equipment No toxic gases High power density, resulting in short heating or melting times Quick fusion due to extremely high contact temperatures Production can be increased cost-effectively by adding electric resistances to existing fuel-fired melting furnaces

Post-production processing

Tempering and thermoforming

	Electrotechnologies Benefits Mid infrared Easy to install No rejects Precise control of the molten bath temperature Suitable for focalized heating High-precision heating results in superior thermoformed products Suitable for controlled-atmosphere treatment

Drying/curing of paints on glass or ceramic

	Electrotechnologies Benefits Electric resistance Simple heating system that's economical to buy and operate Precise temperature control Operating conditions can be reproduced from one batch to the other, resulting in consistently high quality Products are free of contaminants since there are no combustion gases Sturdy construction Suitable for controlled-atmosphere treatment (e.g., inert gas) Ultraviolet (UV) Low specific consumption Solvent-free Superior finish (polymerization) High processing speed

Hardening of polymers or glues on glass, ceramic or porcelain

	Electrotechnologies Benefits Microwave High frequency Induction Electron beam High processing speed Precise temperature control – suitable for bonding applications, e.g., glass and steel (induction) No surface overheating Superior penetration and very high speed (electron beam) Cost-effective for large production runs (electron beam)

Thin-film vacuum deposition

	Electrotechnologies Benefits Sputtering Suitable for pure metal or compound (nitrides, oxides, etc.) deposition applications Can also be used for depositing precursors such as ultra-pure metals and various reactive gases Higher reflectivity of UV and IR rays Chemical vapor deposition Fast, economical process Precise temperature control Fewer steps involved Better adhesion than with sputtering Coating retains its integrity even after bending

Other surface coatings

	Electrotechnologies Benefits Plasma Suitable for depositing thin films of metal or metallic or non-metallic alloy Can also be used to fuse alloys at very high temperature

Other applications

Cutting, engraving, piercing and drilling

	Electrotechnologies Benefits Laser Increased productivity (ultrahigh speed, high precision, suitable for robot operation) Energy savings

Bonding

	Electrotechnologies Benefits Induction High frequency Precise temperature control, making it possible to bond glass and metal (induction)

Sterilizing containers

	Electrotechnologies Benefits Infrared (IR) Very high energy efficiency Short heating times Suitable for controlled-atmosphere treatment Can be easily adapted to work with existing equipment

Branding (on glass, ceramic or porcelain)

	Electrotechnologies Benefits Electric resistance Suitable for the production of high-quality baked enamels Laser Flexible, reliable operation No clouding or rejects Precise, reproducible glass engraving

Testimonials

	Novatech To make tempered glass at low cost, Verrier Novatech chose a continuous heat-treatment furnace. More		Vitrerie April Vitrerie April equipped itself with all-electric furnaces to diversify its glass product line. More
	Verre Sélect Verre Sélect has earned an enviable position in the decorative glass market thanks to thermoforming with infrared heaters. More