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• Basic Manufacture

Glass Manufacturing - Basic Manufacture

There are three main flat glass manufacturing methods for producing the basic glass from which all processed glass products are made.

Float

Over 85 per cent of the world’s flat glass is made by the float process (see below). This is the way all of the world’s high quality, optically clear glass is made.

Sheet

Approximately 8 per cent of the world’s flat glass is made by the sheet process. This process predates, competes with and is gradually being replaced by float. The majority of the world’s sheet production is in China with the remaining pockets in the less developed markets of Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia.

Rolled

The rolling process makes patterned, figured and wired glass products. Semi-molten glass is squeezed between metal rollers to produce a ribbon with controlled thickness and surface pattern.