Invention of Float Glass. On the 20th January 1959, the Float Glass process was announced to the glass-making world which completely changed the future for glassmaking and the Pilkington company. This process was invented by Sir Alastair Pilkington and his R&D team after seven years of experimenting and investing in the process.

1959 – The float process was announced to the glass-making world. 1968 – Baron Harry Pilkington created a life peer, taking the title of Baron Pilkington. 1981 – UK5 opens with 400 employees, a number which was considered small for the task of float glass production; however the advancement in technology led to the reduction of people required on the factory floor.

Pioneers and trailblazers: 70 years of float glass innovation. Press Release. 25 May 2022. Neil Syder, managing director at Pilkington United Kingdom Limited, part of the NSG Group, reflects on 70 years of the modern float glass process and looks forward to the next breakthroughs in glass manufacturing technologies.

Highest quality float glass ; Very high light transmission ; Extremely durable material ; Maintenance-free and easily cleaned ; Easily processed and fabricated ; Can be used in Insulating Glass Units in combination with other products from our range to provide additional benefits ; Can be toughened or laminated for impact safety and security

It was a copy of the book, ‘Float – Pilkingtons’ Glass Revolution’. Written by former Company Secretary David Bricknell, it explores how Pilkington Brothers – then one of the smallest plate glass manufacturers – became a global force through its invention of float glass.

Pilkington Optifloat™ Opal is a popular glass that sits within our Pilkington Oriel Collection - our premium etched range. An acid-etched product suitable for internal or external use, it creates an attractive finish for windows, partition walls, glass doors, furniture, shelving, wall cladding and many more applications.

Pilkington Microwhite™ is an extremely thin, high-grade float glass manufactured to precise standards, suitable for a variety of applications. Pilkington Mirai™ Our new low carbon glass offers a market leading 50% less CO 2 e* vs our standard glass product achieved by using a combination of alternative fuel, high recycled glass content and ...

Based in St Helens and at the NSG Group's European Technical Centre nearby in Lathom, Lancashire, we employ around 3,000 people across the UK, producing a range of glass solutions, from the manufacture of float, rolled and coated glass to glass processing and merchanting, automotive original equipment (OE) and automotive glass replacement (AGR ...

The trial is a key step in the manufacturer’s plans to decarbonise and could see a transition to using hydrogen to power all production at the site, which currently uses natural gas. The switch means that the float glass furnace – which accounts for the majority of the company’s overall carbon emissions – would be able to run with ...

Our own high quality clear float glass with an unrivalled environmental pedigree. Pilkington K Glass™ Range. Our well known low-emissivity coated glass range which is incorporated into double glazed units such as Pilkington energiKare™ for energy-efficient glazing for homes. Pilkington K Glass™