Float glass process: fabrication, coating, lamination

Methods of making glass have changed considerably over the centuries, from a highly skilled craft to today’s high volume industrial production. One of the most important innovations in the glass industry was the development of the Float Glass production process and we’d like to give you an insight into how float glass is made today.

From skilled craftsmen to industrialization

Glass was first discovered around 5,000 BC. For centuries, individual craftmanship dominated and it was not until the 20th Century that glass production became industrialized and mass produced in sheets. But there was still one major drawback: glass had to be ground and polished on both sides to obtain the desired quality – a process that was very time-consuming and costly. 

Then came perhaps the greatest innovation in glass history – the introduction of the Float Glass production process, popularized in the 1960s. This breakthrough led to a dramatic rise in the use of glass around the world.  

Float glass is the foundation of Guardian’s offerings today, from coated solar control glass, to laminated safety, anti-reflective and mirror glass. 

The float glass process 

The process of making float glass is rather like preparing and cooking a carefully planned meal. You start by collecting all the required ingredients, then follow a specific set of processes that include heating to the correct temperature then cooling in the right manner. Follow the recipe to the letter and the results are worth the effort.