No_1_1959 — Page 59

float-

Pilkington's new process is epoch-making step-forward in glass manufacture

A revolutionary new method of making high quality glass has been invented by Pilkington Brothers Limited, the British flat glass manufacturers.

Named the Float Process, it has been developed under conditions of close secrecy in St. Helens, the past seven than £4 million.

Lancashire,

over

years at a cost of more

of Arts, which was attended by 250 Press, television and radio correspondents repre- senting more than 50 countries.

MR. ALASTAIR PILKINGTON

Mr. L.A.B. Pilkington was educated at Sherborne School and Trinity College, Cambridge.

He served as a Commissioned Officer during the war and fought in the Middle East. Taken prisoner after the surrender in Crete, he spent four years in Germany.

Returning to England after the war, having been out of the country for the Sir Harry described Float Glass as "The full duration of hostilities, he went back most fundamental, revolutionary and im- to Cambridge to continue his studies. portant of all the advances in glassmaking In 1947 he joined Pilkington Brothers of the present century.'

Limited as Pointing out

trainee director and was that many details of the new process must

in turn Production Manager and Works Manager at Doncaster from 1950 to 1952. remain secret, he revealed that its basis

He was appointed to the Board in 1955, was a continuous ribbon of glass floating on a bath of molten metal in a controlled

SO

J

a

mirrors and building as soon as production brilliant smooth finish, This did away was sufficient. For the present it would with the grinding required in the manu- be marketed at Plate glass prices. facture of Plate glass.

Eventually it will mean better and cheaper glass for cars, building, shop atmosphere that it emerged with a windows and mirrors. It should also ensure Britain's world supremacy in the highly competitive field of flat glass for a number of years to come.

The first public announcement about Float Glass was made in London a short time ago by Sir Harry Pilkington, chairman of Pilkington Brothers Limited, a 133-year- old company employing 22,000 people in many parts of the world. He was speak ing at a conference at the Royal Society

TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES

Float Glass, which in appearance com- bines the best qualities of both Plate and Sheet

glass, would be sold immediately the through specialised outlets at home and 1. overseas, he said. The quantity now being produced was considerable, but not yet enough for it to be offered freely. It was being supplied for motor-trade require- ments and this would be extended for

FIRE

HEAT ZONE POLISHING

COOLING ZONE

ZONE

CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE

GAS

RAW BATCH

HEATER

MOLTEN GLASS

LIQUID METAL

HEAT

HEAT HEAT

GLASS TANK

OR FURNACE

FLOAT

BATH

ANNEALING LEHR

CUTTING

SECTION

2.

3.

The three main technical advantages of

new process are:-

It makes glass which is exceptionally parallel and free from distortion.

It produces glass with fire polished surfaces which is of better quality than that achieved by grinding and polish- ing.

It is absolutely continuous right up to the finished ribbon emerging from the cooling lehr and so lends itself to a fully mechanised cycle from the handling of the raw materials to the glass being packaged for despatch.

The new process will also mean a saving in capital expenditure over the Twin grinding Plate glass manufacturing plant, which today would cost more than £10 million to install. It takes up less works space than the Twin and its operation will mean a saving in maintenance cost and manpower.

Talks are taking place with the Trade Unions over the labour implications of the Float Process.

(Continued on Page 64)

THE HONG KONG & FAR EAST BUILDER

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VOLUME 14, NUMBER 1

55