The mini-melting system has been developed for highly flexible low-volume melting (up to 1,5 t in 24 h) with change-over times reduced to a minimum. Target applications are flexible colour production and flexible melting conditions for clear glass, especially for low-volume production of technical glasses with varying requirements concerning glass characteristics for specific applications. The system features a full electronic control of all parameters in the melting and feeding process which is the pre-condition for a consistent and reproducible production process. Reproducibility is especially crucial for colour production and for a comprehensive process control in technical and optical glass production. High-concentration colour melting also allows to produce coloured glass rods in a fully automatic process to be used for the feeder channel colouring system.

The mini-melting system is based on highly specialized modular components for melting, refining, temperature regulation and feeding. Individual production steps are thus performed under optimal conditions and the components are highly specialized to specific functions � with regard to the basic layout, the glass contact material, the heating system etc. Since all heating systems are based on an electrical heating, a discontinuous as well as a continuous, fully electronically controlled melting process is achieved � which provides a highly accurate and reproducible melting and feeding process and perfect conditions for colour production.