Feracitas and Risto Nikander have developed improvements to convection furnace processes based on their experience since 1996. They have patented these improvements and signed an agreement with Shanghai Refine Machinery Co., Ltd. in 2011 to exploit the patents. The first Smart Cycle forced convection heating furnace was started recently. It can process glass sizes up to 2,400 x 5,000mm and curved glass up to 2,400 x 2,500mm in thicknesses ranging from 4-20mm. Sales of Smart Cycle furnaces started quickly in China, with five furnaces sold in the first few weeks due to their performance and export sales have also started.