Float Glass
The float glass process, developed by Pilkington in 1952, is now the world standard for high quality glass production. Float glass is often processed further before being fitted into buildings and vehicles.
The process, originally able to make only 6mm thick glass, now makes it as thin as 0.4mm and as thick as 25mm. A 'batch' of precisely mixed raw materials is melted in the furnace. Molten glass, at approximately 1000ºC, is poured continuously from a furnace onto a shallow bath of molten tin in a chemically controlled atmosphere. It floats on the tin, spreads out and forms a level surface. Thickness is controlled by the speed at which the solidifying glass ribbon is drawn off from the bath. After annealing (controlled cooling) the glass emerges as a 'fire' polished product with virtually parallel surfaces.
Around 370 float lines are in operation, under construction or planned worldwide. The NSG Group operates or has interest in 51 float lines worldwide.
