As the glass industry gathers in Toledo, Ohio, for the Glass Problems Conference (GPC) 2026 from 14 to 17 September, LAND is marking an important milestone: more than 200 NIR-b thermal imaging systems have now been installed for glass furnace applications worldwide.
Over the past several years,
NIR-b technology has helped transform the way glassmakers monitor furnace operation.
Rather than relying solely on conventional visual cameras or individual temperature measurements, NIR-b provides a calibrated thermal image of the furnace, helping operators identify hot and cold areas, verify temperature measurements, assess combustion behaviour, and monitor batch distribution.
Reaching the 200-system milestone reflects the growing adoption of thermal imaging as a practical tool for improving furnace performance, supporting energy efficiency, and maintaining glass quality.
At
GPC 2026, visitors will have the opportunity to explore the next stage in this development: ImagePro Glass AI.
Purpose-built for glass melt tank monitoring,
ImagePro Glass AI combines temperature measurement, batch coverage analysis, and flame monitoring within a single Windows-based platform.
The software supports real-time analysis from up to four thermal imagers, giving furnace and batch teams a comprehensive view of operating conditions. Standard industrial communication protocols are available to support integration and data sharing.
A key advancement is the integration of artificial intelligence.
Advanced neural network models automatically detect and track batch material across the furnace surface, providing pixel-level batch coverage analysis. The software continuously calculates batch line position and monitors deviations from target operating conditions.
Automatic flame detection identifies flame presence in real time, helping to distinguish flame interference from batch analysis and improving monitoring reliability under changing furnace conditions.
Together,
NIR-b thermal imaging and
ImagePro Glass AI move furnace monitoring beyond simply viewing temperatures. Operators can gain deeper insight into furnace performance through automated analysis of key process conditions, helping them make faster and more informed decisions.
Visit
LAND at
GPC 2026 in Toledo to discover how NIR-b thermal imaging and ImagePro Glass AI are helping glass manufacturers gain greater visibility into furnace performance and process conditions.
For more information about GPC 2026 and to plan your visit, click here.