Author: acceso_verescence

What is a High Voltage Glass Insulator?

 

A high-voltage glass insulator is a component designed to support and insulate high-voltage electrical conductors in power transmission and distribution systems.

What are glass insulators made of?

 This type of insulator consists of a tempered glass disc, which may vary in shape depending on its function and specific application. A metal cap and pin are attached to the disc, allowing the insulators to be connected together in strings.

 

These insulators are essential for maintaining the integrity of the electrical system and preventing short circuits or electrical discharges.

What are the main properties of a high-voltage glass insulator?

High-voltage glass insulators possess several key properties that make them suitable for use in high-voltage electrical systems.

 

These characteristics include high mechanical strength and electrical withstand capacity, the ability to endure adverse weather conditions, and long-term durability.

Furthermore, their design and construction are optimized to ensure reliable performance and an extended service life in demanding environments.

What is a Glass Insulator – Key Takeaways

• Designed to withstand high voltages.
• It may take different shapes depending on its function.
• Essential for the integrity of the electrical system.
• High mechanical and electrical strength.
• Ability to withstand adverse weather conditions.
• Long-term durability.

La Granja Glass Insulators

LaGranja Glass Insulators
More than 100 million installed – In over 100 countries – On all Continents

Toughened Glass Insulator – The technical advantages

Utilities worldwide are facing growing concerns over the long-term reliability of polymer insulators, with many reporting unsatisfactory failure rates. Toughened glass insulators offer a proven and dependable alternative. Thanks to their advanced thermal treatment, they deliver exceptional resistance to both mechanical and thermal stresses, as well as accidental impacts during transport, handling, and installation. Designed to withstand even sudden temperature changes, toughened glass insulators combine durability, safety, and peace of mind—making them the trusted choice for reliable performance in demanding line installations.

Reduced ageing
This is true even when insulators are subjected to large mechanical loads. LGI has insulators in service in high voltage transmission grids for over 85 years.

High dielectric resistance and homogeneous potential distribution
Dielectric strength is high due to the homogeneity of the glass, which makes them practically impossible to puncture. The insulator has high electrical capacitance and achieves homogeneous potential distribution in strings, thereby helping to improve the phenomenon of radio interference and the corona effect.

Easy inspection and mechanical reliability
Toughened glass insulators offer a very important advantage: an intact glass insulator is always a “healthy” insulator. If the glass were to break for any reason, it would break up into small pieces, whilst the mechanical resistance of the insulator “stub “remains practically the same as that of the intact insulator. This provides confidence for asset managers and power line inspection crews, simplifying inspection as it can be carried out using the naked eye from the ground or from a helicopter. The insulator string practically maintains its original mechanical properties until maintenance work can be scheduled. Furthermore, thanks to the homogeneity of the glass, the annual spontaneous shattering rate for installed LGI insulators (measured empirically by the world’s main electricity operators) has been shown to be below the 0.02% that is normally required by customers, thereby significantly reducing maintenance costs and providing a lower cost of ownership.

For these reasons, glass insulators are becoming the cost-effective solution for new construction and for the replacement of aging porcelain or polymer insulators

 

La Granja Glass Insulators – Made of Glass and Passion

La Granja Insulators (LGI) is a member of the VERESCENCE Group.
The VERESCENCE Group has facilities throughout the world (total of 7 plants including France, Spain and United States) with over 2,340 employees. It is now the world leader in speciality glass products (Power Line Insulators, Perfumery and cosmetics, & Spirits Bottles) with an annual turnover of around 321 million euros.

A major player in the insulator market for nearly 90 years (previously known as ESA, Saint-Gobain La Granja, Vicasa and SGD) LGI has built up its reputation for reliability, professionalism and innovation based on the following:

• La-Granja Insulator production is at the forefront of Quality and Technology and has benefitted from regular investment throughout its existence.
• Ongoing innovation policy: Pin-type insulators, toughened glass suspension insulators, RTV silicone coated insulators (SILGLASS®).
• Over 85 years’ collaboration with the main electricity network operators throughout the world.
• Over 100 million insulators installed in electricity distribution and transport networks for medium to high voltages of up to 765 kV in over 100 countries in all continents
• Quality, environmental and health and safety management systems, certified according to the highest international standards: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, ISO 17025 and ISO 22716.

 

La-Granja Toughened Glass Insulators (TGI)

Suspension insulator components
Suspension insulators consist of the following elements:

• A dielectric profile made of toughened glass with the suitable properties and shape for the environmental conditions it was designed for.
• Hot-dipped galvanised ductile or malleable cast iron cap, marked with our brand name “ESA” and engraved and stamped as per the applicable standards for the correct identification and individual traceability.
• Hot-dipped galvanized forged steel pin.
• The cap and pin are assembled on the glass piece using aluminous cement to withstand the thermomechanical efforts.
• Lastly, the insulator cap includes a stainless steel or phosphor bronze locking device (split pin) which secures the coupling of the units.

Also, on request, the pins can be supplied protected using an anti-corrosion zinc sleeve (sacrificial anode). This zinc sleeve is strongly recommended for insulators that may be installed in heavily polluted environments.

On clevis and tongue type insulators, the caps are equipped with a forged steel bolt and a pin.

Range
The range of suspension insulators produced at La-Granja complies with the main international and national standards: IEC, ANSI, CSA, BS, NF, UTE, UNE & DIN..

For each standard, there is a wide variety of mechanical resistances ranging from 40 kN up to 400 kN, covering a variety of power lines and substations.

Within each standard and for each mechanical load, the suspension insulators are divided into groups depending on the glass profile.

The groups are as follows:

Standard profile insulators
These are the most common and most frequently used insulators for lines in low pollution environments, where they perform well due to their small, well-spaced ribs and a creepage distance which exceeds the requirements of the IEC 60305 and ANSI C29.2 standards

Anti-pollution or Anti-fog profile insulators
LGI offer two different shapes which are recommended for areas with medium to heavy pollution. Their longer creepage distance, which exceeds the requirements of the IEC 60305 standard, is achieved due to deeper ribs, and reduces the effects of pollution without increasing the length of the string.

Aerodynamic profile insulators
Due to the flat dielectric profile, this type of insulator is highly recommended for desert areas because the absence of ribs, which helps to reduce the accumulation of residues, particularly on the inner surface of the dielectric. At the same time, its shape permits regular and constant airflow which enables the wind to perform a self-cleaning process. These can also be used in areas of critical industrial or mixed pollution (desert and industrial pollution).

SILGLASS®: Silicone-coated insulators (RVT)

 

THE SMART-VALUE SOLUTION
Silicone-coated insulators offer an excellent alternative which guarantees optimum performance for high voltage overhead lines in areas with heavy pollution. They minimise leakage current and thereby reduce operation and maintenance costs.

The product used to coat the insulators is Room Temperature Vulcanization (RTV) silicone which contains mineral fillers embedded in the silicone itself.

This silicone increases the hydrophobic nature of the insulator’s surface, with a Lotus leaf effect, thereby improving its performance in polluted areas. Furthermore, the fillers absorb the energy of any possible electric arcs and serve to protect the integrity of the coating.

Silicone-coated insulators are an economical solution because they eliminate the need to regularly clean, whilst still maintaining the mechanical reliability that glass suspension insulators have demonstrated over the years.

Silicone-coated insulators are the result of bringing together high-quality insulator technology and high-performance silicone, combined by the most advanced application technology. It has the heritage of mechanical reliability together with excellent pollution resistance.

This is a fantastic solution utilised more and more on a large scale throughout the world’s main Distribution & Transport Networks.

Mechanical, electrical, and dimensional data
The guaranteed mechanical and electrical values for each insulator is recommended by the IEC, BS, ANSI and CSA standards. Similarly, the dimensional data (spacing, diameter, coupling standard, creepage distance) also comply to these standards.

 

 

Manufacturing process

1.- Glass melting and composition
The glass manufactured by La-Granja is obtained through a very specific melting process, using a modern furnace and control technology which have been specially designed by the company. This guarantees excellent quality glass in terms of homogeneity and chemical composition.

2.- Forming
Our expertise and technology in the pressing process, together with recent investments, enables LGI to produce the most demanding insulator profiles and sizes, going above & beyond the requirements of international standards.

3.- Tempering and thermal shocks
Tempering is the thermal treatment applied to the glass immediately after forming. The first stage is thermal balancing, to homogenize the temperature throughout the entire depth of the piece. The second stage is the hardening itself, which is achieved by cooling the outer areas to create residual compressive stress on the surface and tensile stress on the inside. This provides improved mechanical, thermal and electrical properties, as well as guaranteeing unbeatable resistance to ageing.

After hardening, all the pieces are subjected to thermal shocks, above & beyond the gradients established by international standards. This shock guarantees the elimination of faulty pieces.

4.- Assembly
The process for assembling the glass and metal parts is carried out in the same industrial plant as the rest of the manufacturing process, in a highly automated workshop using technology designed by LGI. It is based on the hot curing of high resistance, low expansion coefficient aluminous cement, to achieve excellent mechanical stability over time and high residual mechanical resistance, close to that of an intact insulator.

5.- Testing and trials
100% of the insulators are subjected to demanding quality checks carried out by automatic systems, including routine mechanical test.

Maximum quality levels are guaranteed by means of an exhaustive process monitoring system which constantly measures and checks all the variables using automatic data capture systems. At the end of the whole process, statistical quality checks are carried out for all manufactured batches.

 

Research and development
The desire to research and develop new technological solutions has formed part of LGI’s DNA, ever since VERESCENCE La Granja was founded in 1932.

Laboratory
La Granja Insulators have an insulator laboratory accredited under the ISO 17025 Standard (General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories).

For this purpose, the plant has different facilities:

High Voltage Facility: With a power frequency generator and an impulse generator

Mechanical Testing Facility: With two tensile machines with a capacity of up to 100T and 30T, respectively

Thermal Facility: Consisting of a special room for performing thermal and thermal-mechanical tests

Pollution Chamber: To test performance of RTV silicone coated insulators under polluted conditions and to carry out “tracking and erosion” tests

Type tests and special tests in external laboratories
Type test and special test reports are available for all insulators produced by LGI, in accordance with applicable standards, carried out by independent, accredited and internationally reputed laboratories.

These reports serve to demonstrate, once again, the quality and reliability of the LGI product. They are regularly updated and available to any client who wishes to consult them.

Traceability
LGI’s IT system enables the gathering of real-time information regarding the availability and location of their products, including traceability. The information for each individual insulator is entirely computerised. Making it possible for LGI to achieve full traceability, in a fast and simple way, for both the components used in insulator manufacturing and the results obtained in each control process:

This ensures constant monitoring and traceability, from manufacturing right through to customer delivery.

 

Fuente: www.tengroup.com.au

Why do Glass Insulators Work?”

 

In the high-voltage power transmission world, safety and efficiency hinge on one critical component: the insulator. But what makes materials like glass perfect for this task?

The answer lies in the atomic structure and bonding properties of these materials. Let’s explore how glass insulators work and why they’re trusted to keep our global energy infrastructure running safely.

Understanding Electric Current and Material Behavior

Electric current is the flow of electric charge, usually carried by electrons, through a conductive material when it’s subjected to a voltage. In the power transmission world, controlling this flow is critical to avoid dangerous leaks and ensure grid efficiency.

All materials are made of atoms, composed of:

• A nucleus (protons and neutrons)
• Electrons orbiting the nucleus

The valence electrons, those in the outermost shell, determine how well a material conducts electricity. Their ability (or inability) to move between atoms sets conductors apart from insulators.

Copper vs. Glass: How Atomic Behavior Changes Everything

Conductive Materials (Copper)

• Valence electrons move freely between atoms
• This is made possible by metallic bonding, creating a “sea of electrons”
• As a result, electric current flows easily

Insulating Materials (Glass)

• Has valence electrons that are tightly bound
• Exhibits covalent bonding, where electrons are shared but not freed
• Lacks the free movement required for conduction, making it a natural insulator

Why Glass Is a Perfect Insulator

The insulating properties of glass come down to two main physical characteristics:

1. Atomic Structure

• Metals have a crystalline structure, where atoms are arranged in a regular, repeating pattern. This order makes it easier for electrons to flow.
• Glass has an amorphous structure, meaning its atoms are disordered and irregular. This disorder requires much more energy for electrons to move, effectively blocking current.

 

2. Type of Bonding

• In glass, the covalent bonds between atoms lock valence electrons into place. Even under high voltage, they don’t move, meaning no current can pass through.
• In copper, metallic bonds allow electrons to move freely, ideal for conduction, but not for insulation.

 

 

The Design of a Glass Insulator

A typical glass insulator is built for strength, durability, and maximum electrical resistance. It consists of:

• Two metallic parts: a pin/bolt and a cap
• One central glass unit, acting as the insulating barrier
• Aluminous cement joins the components, ensuring an electrically insulated seal

 

 

Engineering Insight: The glass head is the thickest and most critical part of the insulator. Each millimeter of glass can resist 20kV of electrical tension. Our standard La Granja models range from 10–15 mm, meaning each insulator can withstand 200kV or more.

The Role of Glass Insulators in Power Transmission

In practical terms, a glass insulator separates live cables from grounded metal structures (such as transmission towers). Without this separation:

• Electricity could flow into the tower and reach the ground
• This can cause short circuits, energy losses, or even electrocution

With a properly engineered glass insulator:

• Current remains confined to the transmission cable
• Power is safely transmitted over long distances, even in harsh environments

Key Takeaways: Why Glass Insulators Excel

• Covalent bonding: Keeps electrons locked in place, preventing electric current flow.
• Amorphous atomic structure: Irregular atomic arrangement blocks conduction.
• High mechanical strength: Withstands environmental stress like wind, ice, and heat.
• Visible damage detection: Cracks are instantly noticeable, simplifying inspection.
• Non-aging and UV resistance: Delivers long-term reliability with minimal maintenance.

CDP’s Supplier Engagement Assessment

 

La Granja Insulators is proud to contribute to VERESCENCE’s recognition on CDP’s Supplier Engagement Assessment (SEA) A-list for the fourth year in a row!

This milestone highlights our shared commitment to driving impactful climate action across the supply chain. With Scope 3 emissions making up 40% of the Group’s total in 2024, engaging suppliers is key to our sustainability strategy.

Together, we’re working to reduce CO2 emissions by 37.5% by 2034, through targeted CSR actions and close collaboration with strategic partners.

Why choose our RTV Coated Insulators?

 

Did you know that in highly polluted environments, up to 97% of an insulator’s total lifecycle cost is attributed to maintenance, while only 3% corresponds to its initial acquisition? ⚙️📉

RTV silicone-coated insulators significantly reduce maintenance needs, offering a cost-effective and reliable solution for high-contamination environments.

TEN backs Australia’s energy future with LaGranja Insulators

As Australia accelerates its shift toward a cleaner, more resilient energy grid, TEN is stepping up with a major delivery that reinforces our commitment to supporting the energy transition with high-quality, reliable products. This month, TEN has taken delivery of more than a dozen containers of LaGranja glass insulators, building local stock to support contractors and transmission authorities nationwide.

TEN’s decision to carry significant local inventory of LaGranja Insulators comes as pressure mounts to expand and modernise Australia’s transmission network. High-performance insulators are essential to ensuring new renewable connections and grid upgrades are safe, reliable, and long-lasting.

Building the grid of tomorrow with high quality insulators

For Australia’s evolving energy landscape where bushfire resilience, extreme weather, and grid reliability are top priorities LaGranja glass insulators are a smart, reliability-focused choice. Glass has become the preferred insulator material for many asset owners across the country due to its proven performance.

Renowned for their mechanical strength, electrical integrity, and visible breakage when damaged, LaGranja’s toughened glass insulators are ideally suited to Australia’s harsh conditions. Their ease of inspection helps reduce undetected faults, while their long service life delivers cost-effective solutions for transmission and substation projects.

Supporting the energy transition

TEN’s latest delivery arrives at a critical time when utilities and infrastructure providers are under increasing pressure to modernise transmission networks and integrate renewable energy sources. By supplying high-performance insulators that are easy to inspect, cost-effective to maintain, and built to last, TEN is helping to minimise downtime, lower maintenance costs, and enhance safety for line crews and the communities they serve.

By investing in stock today, TEN is helping the industry avoid project delays tomorrow – reducing lead times and ensuring critical projects stay on track.

A trusted partner

With a national footprint and deep technical expertise, TEN is more than a supplier – we are a long-term partner to Australia’s energy sector. Stocking LaGranja glass disc insulators reflects TEN’s broader commitment to delivering technically proven, field-ready solutions that stand the test of time.

As the energy transition accelerates, TEN is proud to support the people and projects shaping Australia’s energy future – one insulator at a time.

About LaGranja

Founded in 1932 and headquartered in Spain, LaGranja Insulators has built a global reputation for excellence in the design and manufacture of toughened glass insulators. With over 90 years of experience, LaGranja has supplied more than 100 million insulators to over 120 countries, making them a trusted partner for utilities worldwide.

 

Fuente: www.tengroup.com.au

We are delighted with the arrival of the consortium composed of Movendo Capital and Draycott as a new shareholder of the group

Verescence announces the arrival of the consortium composed of Movendo Capital and Draycott as the group’s new shareholder.

Paris, May 26, 2025 – Verescence, the world leader in glass bottles for the Perfumery and Cosmetics industries and a global player in glass Insulators, today announces the arrival of the consortium composed of Movendo Capital and Draycott, two familyowned investment holdings, as the group’s new shareholder.

With 130 years of glassmaking know-how, Verescence is a privileged partner of the biggest brands in the beauty industry. Verescence produces 600 million bottles per year in its 4 glass production sites and 5 finishing sites in Europe, North America and Asia, as well as more than 3.5 million electrical insulators per year. In 2024, Verescence employed 2500 people worldwide.

“We are pleased to welcome new shareholders who support our strategy, investment plans and sustainability program, including our decarbonization roadmap. We are convinced that this project is positive for all our employees, our customers and our partners,” comments Thomas Riou, President of Verescence.

João Coelho Borges, Founding Partner of Draycott, and Pedro Pereira Gonçalves, CEO of Movendo, concluded: ” We are delighted to acquire a global leader with a strong and experienced management team that is perfectly aligned with our value creation strategy. Verescence’s leading position in the industry aligns with our investment criteria in several key dimensions. By combining management’s expertise with our own, we aim for sustainable growth and value creation for all stakeholders.”

Press contacts Verescence :
Céline Le Marre | Marketing & Communication Project Manager celine.lemarre@verescence.com

About Verescence

Verescence is the global leader in glass bottle manufacturing for the Perfumery and Cosmetics industry and has a production capacity of 600 million bottles per year. Verescence supplies its customers with glass through high-quality, environmentally friendly, and innovative solutions. The company has 130 years of glass expertise and a unique geographical footprint (4 glass production sites and 5 finishing sites in France, Spain, the United States and South Korea), making it the partner of choice for the world’s largest beauty market players. For more information, visit
www.verescence.com

About Movendo

Movendo Capital is an investment company based in the Netherlands and operating in Europe and United States. The company is focused on managing investments in growing companies that operate in the food value chain and branded consumer goods, with an innovative business approach, which are located in Europe and the United States. Movendo Capital is owned by Sociedade Francisco Manuel dos Santos, a fourth-generation family holding that is owned by Portuguese family shareholders with a range of investments in different areas, namely, distribution, manufacturing, agrifood, specialized retail, citizenship, and environment.

About Draycott

Draycott is an emerging Portugal-based investment management firm, founded by a senior team with more than 20 years of experience in private investments and a track record of investing more than EUR 2 billion in equity across multiple sectors. Draycott operates across buyouts, real estate, and venture capital, actively building a leading position in private equity, focusing on disciplined investments and value creation. Among its investment vehicles, Draycott Fund I serves as the family office of its founding partner and will be the vehicle participating in the acquisition of  Verescence. This investment reflects a long-term strategic approach, while benefiting from a professionalized team. For more information, visit https://draycott.pt/

Verescence reutilizará más de 1.800 m3 de agua al mes gracias a su nueva depuradora

La empresa líder del vidrio ubicada en La Granja ha adquirido un decantador lamelar, que le permitirá solucionar el gasto de agua que implicaba una parte del proceso de fabricación de aisladores y reducir así su huella hídrica

Uno de los productos estrella de la fábrica de vidrio de la empresa Verescence, ubicada en La Granja de San Ildefonso, son los aisladores de alta tensión. Se trata de un elemento diseñado para soportar y aislar conductores eléctricos de alto voltaje en sistemas de distribución y transporte de energía, por lo que son un elemento fundamental para que la corriente fluya correctamente por las líneas eléctricas. En el complejo de Verescence, el 30% de las toneladas de vidrio que se funden son dedicadas solo a los aisladores, es decir, 15.900 de las 53.000 totales.

Sin embargo, la fabricación de estos objetos tiene un inconveniente, y es la gran cantidad de agua que se utiliza en uno de los puntos del proceso. Para empezar hay que entender que cada pieza no está formada únicamente de vidrio, sino que cuenta con herrajes y pernos metálicos que las completan. Todas estas partes son ensambladas con cemento de fraguado rápido y, para que quedan bien unidas, sin que haya riesgo de rotura es necesario hacerlas vibrar, tal y como explica Javier Arenal, responsable de medio ambiente de la fábrica: “Es lo mismo que cuando hacen un cofrado en la construcción un edificio o un puente. Los albañiles siempre hacen vibrar el hormigón para que no se produzcan poros de aire en él, que al final es lo que puede provocar las roturas”.

El problema viene en que, para asegurarse de que al vibrar se queda el cemento perfecto perfectamente dentro, es necesario echar entre un 5 y un 10% de más. Y claro, ese sobrante es necesario lavarlo con agua presión. Un agua que, claro, se termina contaminadando con la mezcla y queda totalmente inservible, por lo que debe ser desechada. Y esto con un aislador no es mucha cantidad, pero con las 15.900 toneladas que Verescence fabrica al año terminaban siendo muchos litros de agua empleados. Muchos litros de agua que ya no se recuperaban… hasta ahora.

EL PROYECTO
La solución a este gasto de agua ha llegado a la fábrica de Verescence hace poco más de un mes. Una solución en forma de planta seca para gestión de aguas residuales, es decir, una depuradora con el nombre de decantador lamelar que limpia de forma automática esas impurezas formadas por el cemento y permiten que pueda ser reutilizada y así reducir significativamente la huella hídrica en el entorno del Real Sitio, de donde obtiene el agua necesaria para su producción.

El plan para lograr este ahorro en la fábrica de vidrio mediante dicha depuradora se remonta a un proyecto piloto realizado antes de la pandemia, en el año 2019: “Aquel año trajimos una depuradora de alquiler y estuvimos haciendo pruebas con ella durante todo un verano, para ver si éramos capaces de desarrollar una forma de depurar ese cemento y reutilizar ese agua otra vez en el proceso productivo. Y, como vimos que sí que se podía, seguimos adelante para tener la nuestra propia”, explica Javier Arenal.

 

Eso sí, para poder adquirirla máquina fue necesario hacer “una serie de inversiones adicionales, como separar todo el circuito de agua de fábrica de ensamblado para que no se mezclaran los diferentes componentes de las aguas”. A lo largo de estos años, Verescence ha ido invirtiendo en todo ello y, además, realizó la separación de tuberías necesaria para la instalación del decantador lamelar, lo que también requirió de bastante dinero y tiempo. Razones por las cuales ha habido que esperar hasta finales de este año 2024 para ver, por fin, el proyecto hecho realidad.

Cabe destacar que para Verescence todo esto no supone ningún tipo de beneficio económico, sino más bien todo lo contrario, ya que al coste de la depuradora (que asciende a unos 120.000 euros) y de las reformas necesarias para su instalación hay que sumar el mantenimiento y el consumo de sus motores y bombas. Pero, al final, como afirma el responsable de medio ambiente, “esto no es un tema que se haya hecho por ahorro, ya que al final no pagamos por el agua del río, ya que es una concesión administrativa (solo se paga por el agua potable), sino que es puramente por la sostenibilidad y nuestro compromiso con la agua hídrica”.

LA DEPURADORA
Pero, ¿cómo funciona este decantador lamelar para depurar el agua contaminada por el cemento? El proceso empieza, de hecho, fuera de la misma, en lo que sería el decantador de toda la vida, que es una especie de tanque hecho con una rampa hacia abajo para que el agua frene y, al remansarse, pierda la energía y todo el cemento acumulado se quede ahí. Posteriormente, una retroexcavadora saca ese cemento para que pueda ser gestionado como residuo de construcción y demolición.

Pero, claro, aun retirando esos residuos, el agua sigue teniendo carga contaminante, la misma que hacía que tuviera que desecharse. Es ahí donde entra la nueva depuradora, cuyo funcionamiento detalla Javier Arenal, quien también ha sido uno de los encargados del proyecto junto all personal de fluidos: “El proceso consiste en que, en el primer tanque que tiene la máquina, se añade un coagulante al agua para que convierta las partículas en suspensión de cemento en grumos. En lenguaje técnico, esto es posible porque las partículas son aniones, es decir, tienen cargas negativas, por lo que se repelen, mientras que el producto químico es un catión con carga positiva que neutraliza las negativas, permitiendo que las partículas se atraigan y formen los coágulos”.

 

Y, claro, con todas las partículas formando los grumos resulta más sencillo separar una sustancia de la otra, ya que todo el cemento se queda en el fondo del agua, bien diferenciado. Aquí el problema estaría en que, en circunstancias normales, habría que esperar mucho tiempo a que todo el cemento se quede en el fondo. Y, con todo lo que hay que decantar, resultaría inviable. La solución pasa por añadir otro producto químico conocido como floculante en el siguiente tanque, lo que le da más grosor y peso a esos grumos para ayudarlos a decantar.

Finalmente, en el tercer tanque se produce el paso final que da nombre a la depuradora, es decir, la decantación lamelar: “Aquí entra el agua por abajo y sube de manera controlada y muy despacio por unos agujeros, obteniendo así un agua ya depurada y limpia, la cual va saliendo por unas tuberías hacia un depósito, desde donde se bombea otra vez al departamento para volverla a utilizar, obteniendo así un circuito cerrado. Por su parte, el fango formado por los grumos de cemento y el agua que no ha podido ser depurada se va purgando hacia un contenedor ubicado junto a la máquina”.

Todo este proceso se puede comprobar de forma visual, rápida y sencilla con solo cuatro probetas, cada una con agua de los diferentes pasos, tal y como demostró el responsable de medio ambiente. En la primera se pueden observar las partículas de cemento en suspensión dispersas por todo el vaso, obteniendo así un agua completamente sucia; en la segunda, las partículas se van agrupando formando los grumos, pero se ve como estos tardan en amontonarse al fondo del vaso; en la tercera, estos coágulos ya se quedan en el fondo de forma prácticamente inmediata; y, finalmente, en la cuarta y última se obtiene un agua limpia y lista para ser reutilizada.

 

Además, hay que añadir que, pese a que todo el proceso es automático, no prescindirá de los trabajadores, tanto con el mantenimiento de motores y bombas, así como la limpieza y extracción de los residuos sólidos, como con la supervisión de la planta: “Dependiendo de las condiciones, de la temperatura, de la carga o de si viene más concentrado, de vez en cuando hay que venir a ajustar la dosificación de los productos y comprobar que todo va bien. Por eso tenemos aquí las probetas, para comprobar que todo el proceso de depuración se está haciendo adecuadamente”.

De momento, el decantador lamelar aún está en fase de pruebas, pero, con los buenos resultados que está dando, se espera que para inicios del año 2025 ya esté totalmente operativa y funcionando en continuo: “Aunque con la depuradora hemos tenido que quitar un poco de espacio de almacenamiento, lo cierto es que se ha integrado muy bien en las instalaciones y no ha supuesto problemas mayores”.

LAS CIFRAS
Como hemos dicho, el objetivo de todo esto es reducir la huella hídrica de la fábrica en el entorno. Así que, ¿de cuánto ahorro de agua estaríamos hablando? Para empezar hay que saber que la cantidad total de agua que la fábrica emplea al mes es de unos 2.600 metros cúbicos (2,6 millones de litros), de las cuales el 70% se utiliza para el ensamblado de aisladores. Por su parte, con la depuradora, que es capaz de recuperar unos 2,7 metros cúbicos por hora, estaríamos hablando de que podría llegar a más de 1.800, aproximadamente. Esto supondría en torno al 70% de todo el consumo del agua.

Para hacerse una idea de lo que esto supone, para darse una ducha de cinco minutos se suelen emplear unos 80 litros de agua, es decir, 0,08 metros cúbicos. Por lo tanto, con todo lo que está ahorrando a Verescence el decantador lamelar al mes una persona podría darse más de 20.000 duchas de cinco minutos (o alrededor de 11.500 si son de diez). Sin duda, todo un ahorro.

Y es que a la depuradora, además, hay que añadir que se han puesto una serie captadores de señales en todos los contadores de agua de la fábrica para ir monitorizando el consumo: “De esta manera, podemos obtener los datos en tiempo real y ya no tenemos que esperar a un mes a ir a cogerlos a mano del contador, ya que está conectado con internet y nos están dando el consumo diario, o por horas incluso, de agua en cada departamento. Así podemos hacer un seguimiento diario, además de que el software da alarma si hay un consumo anómalo para que se pueda revisar si hay alguna fuga”.

 

Todo esto forma parte del mismo proyecto de la fábrica de Verescence para reducir la huella hídrica y el consumo de agua del entorno de La Granja: “Lo que queremos con esto es no quitar los recursos de agua (nunca agua potable) a otras actividades económicas del municipio ni a la ciudadanía”, concluye Javier Arenal.

 

Fuente: eladelantado.com

La Granja Insulators recibe el Premio a la Mejor Estrategia en Mercados Exteriores

El pasado viernes, 8 de noviembre, La Granja Insulators fue reconocida con el Premio a la Mejor Estrategia en Mercados Exteriores en los XVIII Premios Castilla y León Económica. Este galardón celebra nuestra capacidad de expansión global y la implementación de estrategias innovadoras que han llevado nuestros productos a más de 120 países, representando el 97% de nuestra facturación.

Nuestra trayectoria durante los últimos años ha sido marcada por un crecimiento sostenido, logrando triplicar nuestra cifra de negocio en solo 7 años. Este resultado ha sido posible gracias a un enfoque estratégico centrado en identificar los mercados prioritarios, adaptar nuestras estrategias a las necesidades locales, establecer colaboraciones con socios internacionales y optimizar nuestra logística para garantizar un servicio confiable.

 

 

Hitos destacados de nuestra expansión internacional

El camino hacia este reconocimiento ha estado lleno de logros significativos que demuestran nuestra capacidad de adaptarnos a los mercados más exigentes. Gracias a nuestra visión global y el compromiso de nuestro equipo, hemos alcanzado metas clave que han consolidado nuestra presencia en los principales mercados y nos han abierto puertas hacia nuevos horizontes. Entre los hitos más importantes destacan:

• Consolidación de mercados clave: EE. UU. y Canadá se han convertido en algunos de nuestros principales destinos.
• Diversificación en Asia y Oceanía: La entrada en Australia y el fortalecimiento de nuestra presencia en Asia representan un logro significativo.
• Proyectos emblemáticos en Oriente Medio: La realización de grandes desarrollos en Arabia Saudí demuestra nuestra capacidad para asumir retos de alta exigencia.
• Innovación en servicios de valor añadido: Servicios como la consultoría y la monitorización de aisladores complementan nuestra propuesta, destacando nuestro compromiso con la excelencia

 

 

Palabras de Mikel Campos, quien recibió el premio en representación de La Granja Insulators:

“Tuve el honor de recibir, en nombre de La Granja Insulators, el Premio a la Mejor Estrategia en Mercados Exteriores de manos de Castilla y León Económica.

Este es un reconocimiento al esfuerzo y compromiso de todo el equipo, así como a nuestra visión estratégica para llevar productos de calidad a nuevos destinos. Agradezco a nuestros clientes, colaboradores y socios internacionales su confianza, y a cada integrante de este equipo por su dedicación y valentía para superar los retos que enfrentamos.

Este reconocimiento nos motiva a seguir creciendo, innovando y llevando lo mejor de nuestra industria a cada rincón del mundo.”

La Granja Insulators sigue apostando por una expansión que priorice la calidad y la sostenibilidad. Este premio no solo destaca nuestro éxito comercial, sino también nuestra capacidad para adaptarnos y superar desafíos en mercados complejos.

Queremos agradecer a Castilla y León Económica por este prestigioso reconocimiento, que reafirma nuestra posición como líderes en el sector de aisladores de vidrio, y felicitar al resto de los premiados por sus logros.

 

A Look Back at CIGRE 2024: La Granja Insulators’ Experience

It’s been officially two weeks since La Granja Insulators participated in the CIGRE 2024 Session in Paris, representing our ongoing commitment to excellence in the electrical industry.

Held from August 25th to 30th at the Palais des Congrès, this event gathered over 9,000 power systems professionals from 120 countries.

It was an extraordinary opportunity for us to showcase our latest innovations in high-voltage glass insulation technology!

The event featured a technical exhibition with over 300 companies, offering a unique platform to demonstrate our products and solutions to a diverse audience of industry leaders, engineers, and decision-makers. Our booth attracted significant interest, where we shared insights, and discussed future trends in the power systems sector.

The event provided a clear glimpse into the current state and future evolution of the electrical industry, revealing a rapidly growing market with extraordinary potential, highlighting projections of incredible growth through 2035, with expectations to double or even triple market demand.

 We extend our gratitude to everyone who visited our booth and to the organizers of CIGRE 2024 for creating such a successful event. It was an exceptional moment for the power line sector, and with record attendance and high levels of engagement, the coming years promise to be even more exciting.