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Machines for the glass industry

For over 50 years, JANBAC SA has been the world leader in the field of glass drilling, with more than 600 installations in operation. It owes its position of leadership, above all, to its policy of innovation.

1947 : At a time when France was undergoing major reconstruction, Jean Bachmann – industrial designer and head of maintenance at the Fibrociment company – set up his own business, founding the JANBAC company. At the outset, JANBAC was a general mechanics company. However, it soon began specializing in the manufacture of machines for the asbestos/cement industry. His former employers were his first customers.
1955 : Jean BACHMANN was one of the first people in Europe to perfect double head drilling for glass. The prototype, which was inspired by a pre-war single head machine designed in Germany, was created for the Saint-Gobain factory in Chantereine.
1957 : Christian BACHMANN – Jean’s son, and a Supelec engineer – joined the company after 2 years as a naval officer.
1965 : Creation of the very first straight line edging machine in the world. In 1966, this machine was presented at the 1st World Glass Show at the Porte de Versailles in Paris, though unfortunately it had little success at the time because the market was not ready for this kind of equipment.
De 1965  to 1975 : JANBAC created many production lines for flat and corrugated sheets, in addition to
joint lathes for the asbestos cement industry. This was the period when the company opened up to the world. The export turnover rocketed.
1978 : Creation of the COVER (COmmercial VERre: glass trade) department, under the aegis of Albert Guibaud, to extend the range of glass machines sold by the Group through a policy of representing companies who manufacture machines that are complementary to our own in France.
1980 : Our team was the first to design digitally controlled multi-spindle drilling centers for small and large sizes of glass.
1983 : Mrs Edith Cresson, the Minister of External Trade, presented JANBAC with the “Innover pour Exporter” (“Innovate to Export”) prize, awarded by ANVAR and the banks for successful exports, notably in the glass sector.
1984 : Franck BACHMANN– Jean’s grandson, a graduate of the Institut Supérieur de Gestion (Paris) – joined the company too, after the now traditional 18 months as a Fleet Air Arm officer in the French navy. He took charge of the company’s commercial destiny.
1986 : Our research department perfected the first in-line modular stations for high-rate drilling of automobile glass. These stations, which are in constant development, today constitute the last word in automobile glass drilling.
1988 : JANBAC revolutionized the hole-drilling business with an electromechanical automatic drill adjustment device, covered by a European patent (SRP1 drilling heads).
1990 : Our research produced a new concept of totally electrical drilling (Électra 1, 21 and 22 heads) which gave rise to a new generation of drills (models 5000CN, 9000CN and 6000MTE).
1991 : Our efforts were rewarded with the “Mercure de l’exportation” prize, awarded by Mr Strauss-Kahn, then the Minister of Industry and External Trade.
1994 : With a view to diversifying and increasing its presence on the world market, JANBAC acquired the BAUDIN company, the last French manufacturer of glass industry machines, thereby becoming a group: the range of machines offered by the Group increased, the agent network grew, and the surface area of our stands at Glastec Düsseldorf doubled!
1995 : JANBAC perfected the first routing heads, transforming our multi-spindle digitally controlled drilling stations into genuine machining centers. It became possible to create notches with our drills.
1998 : The JANBAC/BAUDIN Group applied for a European patent for high-speed glass machining, leading – in late 1998 – to the creation of a range of new-generation vertical and double edgers, equipped with diamond wheels turning at 14,000 rpm, making it possible to attain a feed speed of 20m/min.
2000 :

 

 JANBAC designed and produced the first entirely digitized high-speed in-line multi-spindle drill, fed by carrousel, fitted with new electrical Électra 3 heads that have higher performance and are easier to maintain, dedicated to glass for the furnishing trade, automobile industry and household electrical appliances.
2002 : JANBAC appoints its 22nd and 23rd agents in the world, thus opening up the Russian and Brazilian markets to our machines.
2003/
2004

Work started on two new machines.
- the “Easy Door” project for high-speed in-line drilling/milling of doors, with automatic tool change.
- the overhaul of our 9000CNs, with enlargement of work area covered by the 4 spindles and the mounting of a water-jet cutting head, making it possible to produce complex notches. The new 9000 GM2 model entered the catalogue in late 2003.
- The opening of “FBM”, our production subsidiary in Bulgaria, located 70 km east of Sofia, as part of a joint venture with OPTICO ELECTRON, a Bulgarian group that manufactures civilian and military precision optics.