Float glass

In 1959, the English company Pilkington came up with a revolutionary process of float glass which allowed the production of glass panes and mirrors of an exceptional size and quality.

The molten glass, drawn from the tank furnace is poured onto a bath of molten tin. The principle which already interested 19th century researchers is based on the difference of density of the two liquids which allowed one to float on the other.

The sheet of glass was then annealed and cut to size.