The Centauro Furnace 3 (Virgo #3) at Vetrerie Meridionali S.p.A., located in Castellana Grotte (BA), Italy, is now fully operational. This milestone marks the successful completion of a complex project that saw the demolition of the old, End Port type, furnace and the construction of a new state-of-the-art melting unit, delivered by Stara Glass S.p.A..

From demolition to a new generation furnace

The project began with the demolition phase, followed by an intensive reconstruction program carried out throughout the year. Thanks to close coordination among all partners involved, the new Centauro Furnace 3 progressively took shape, integrating advanced melting technology designed to deliver high efficiency, reliability and performance.

After the completion of construction, the furnace successfully passed preheating and commissioning, officially entering operation and starting a new chapter for glass production at the Vetrerie Meridionali site.

Technology in action

With the furnace now operational, Stara Glass’s technology is delivering tangible results in terms of process stability, performance and efficiency. The successful commissioning represents the final milestone of a demanding industrial project and confirms the effectiveness of the engineering solutions adopted.

This achievement is the result of strong teamwork, combining skilled partnerships, operational excellence and a shared commitment to quality and efficiency.

A strategic platform for the LIFE SUGAR Project

Centauro Furnace 3 also plays a strategic role in the LIFE SUGAR Project, a European initiative aimed at decarbonizing the glass industry. Led by Stara Glass in collaboration with Vetrerie Meridionali S.p.A., LIFE SUGAR focuses on self-produced hydrogen combustion powered by energy recovery, transforming waste heat into a valuable energy source.

Vetrerie Meridionali's furnace will host the pilot SUGAR system, currently under construction, representing a key step toward demonstrating low-carbon glass melting technologies at industrial scale.

Construction of the SUGAR infrastructure is progressing and is scheduled for completion by January 2026, paving the way for commissioning and performance testing.

Engineering the future of glass melting

The reconstruction and start-up of Centauro Furnace 3 stand as a concrete example of how collaboration, engineering expertise and shared vision can drive both industrial excellence and technological innovation.

Stara Glass is proud to support Vetrerie Meridionali in this journey, delivering cutting-edge melting technology today while engineering the next step in decarbonization for tomorrow’s glass industry.