Two Innovations That Changed Glass Production
A snapshot from an upcoming video, featuring Alberto Tedeschi, Director Italy & Spare Parts and the SIGMA leadership team.
Where Material Meets the Furnace
For glass manufacturers, the difference between good production and great production often comes down to the refractories that line their furnaces and channels. Small innovations in material design can have a massive impact on output quality, efficiency, and operational costs.
In our recent video interview, Alberto Tedeschi, Director Italy & Spare Parts, shared his perspective on two of SIGMA’s most significant product innovations—and what they mean for customers.
The Patented Tube (Since 2003)
“In the course of years, SIGMA has developed truly innovative technical solutions to help our customers improve their plant performance.”
One of the most notable innovations is the famous patented tube, first introduced in 2003:
“The first [innovation] that since 2003 has helped our customers improve performance in application. This invention allows us to homogenize the glass much better inside the tube—which is ultimately what leads to the formation of the bottle.”
Why it matters to the customer:
“With this solution, customers can produce better bottles compared to using a standard tube—because the invention ensures that the glass temperature inside the tube is higher, and consequently the homogeneity in terms of bottle formation and the gob is superior to a smooth standard tube.”
A95V – High-Alumina Excellence (Since 1997)
“A95V is another important idea we developed starting in 1997, with the first application at a plant in Italy.”
The A95V high-alumina material was developed with a focus on purity and performance:
“Some studies have shown that our high-alumina material, made with pure raw materials and our forming technique free of fluxes, has proven to be the best quality from the point of view of chemical corrosion resistance to glass—specifically for channels producing soda-lime glass.”
Why it matters to the customer:
“The purity of the raw materials used and our manufacturing technique make the material much more resistant to corrosion. The use of purer raw materials means the block resists glass wear significantly better.”
The SIGMA Difference: Speed, Flexibility, and Expertise
With 28 years at SIGMA, Alberto Tedeschi has witnessed the company’s transformation firsthand—and he knows what sets SIGMA apart from competitors:
“SIGMA distinguishes itself from competitors in everything—with quick, precise responses and above all flexibility in terms of delivery that many of our competitors don’t have. Sometimes SIGMA is almost ready—not to ship the material, but ready to give a response to the customer within a week or two, while competitors haven’t even prepared the quote yet.”
“We understand the needs of our customers. We know that when a customer has an urgency, a need, we have to jump on it immediately and help them in any way we can.”
28 Years of Growth – A Personal Perspective
Alberto’s journey with SIGMA mirrors the company’s growth:
“I started working at SIGMA in 1998, when there were 26 people in the company. In 2026, we are almost 100 people. I can say that I grew together with the company—the company grew with me and with everyone else. I can only say that I am happy and pleased to have started this journey so many years ago.”
He also shared what he’s learned from working alongside the Mari family for three generations:
“I have seen the three generations of the Mari family in the company—from Dario Mari, to Roberto Mari, and now Federico and Valentina. What has been passed on to me is the passion for work. They taught me to work. And with work came the passion for what we produce. Passion, dedication, commitment, consistency—these are the things you need to put into the world of work.”
A Positive Future for Glass and for SIGMA
“The future I see as positive—because the glass sector is an industry that can never stop or disappear. On average, every nation produces about 70% of the glass it consumes, so any nation will always need support in terms of refractory supplies. SIGMA will always be present, always at the service of customers to help them in their journey.”
Coming Soon
The full video interview with Alberto Tedeschi will be published on our website and LinkedIn channel in the coming weeks.
Stay tuned – more to come.
