No_6_October_-_November_-_December__1958 — Page 62

Far East Builder 遠東建築雜誌 All

REVOLUTIONARY NEW GLASS PROCESS

Britain maintains World Leadership

PILKINGTON'S SUCCESSFUL SEVEN-YEAR

RESEARCH

PROJECT

After seven years round-the-clock work by the British scientists, engineers and operatives who comprise Pilkington Brothers' research and development team, FLOAT glass has been brought into commercial production, and an epoch-making step forward has been taken in the technique of manufacturing flat glass. It was over 20 years ago that Pilkington Brothers, after a century of glass-making, revolutionised the manu- facture of polished plate glass by inventing the Twin Grinder, which is now used all over the world, including the U.S.A. The Twin process took 20 years to develop, but it was not the last word, for science never stands still. Now, in 1959, FLOAT glass, based on an entirely new conception of glass manufacture, marks another revolution, and a new bid to maintain Britain's lead in the industry.

WHAT IS FLOAT GLASS?

FLOAT is a high-quality flat glass, with both surfaces perfectly true to give the clear, undistorted vision which is the feature of polished plate glass manufactured by the Twin Grinder process. FLOAT is made by a continuous ribbon of glass flowing from a furnace into molten metal, where it floats at a controlled temperature. As the surfaces of FLOAT glass have not been in contact when soft with anything except a liquid, they have a brilliant fire-finish and are perfectly true, without any grinding.

THE ADVANTAGES OF FLOAT

The FLOAT process is continuous from furnace to finished product, and it makes possible full mechanisation from the handling of raw materials to packing the glass for dispatch. The plant needed for FLOAT occupies a far smaller area than the Twin Grinder. It cuts down power and maintenance needs, and there is much less wastage through breakage and surface damage.

RESEARCH CONTINUES

Development work is now going on to translate all these technological advantages into practical economies, which, in turn, will eventually mean high-quality glass at a lower price for the home and for shop-fronts, for railway coaches and motor-cars, for all kinds of building and for all kinds of transport.

is the latest development of British glass manufacture:

be the last.

FLOAT

it will

not

FLOAT GLASS

Float

PILKINGTON BROTHERS LIMITED

+

LANCASHIRE

ST. HELENS

ENGLAND

GLASSWORKS IN BRITAIN AT ST. HELENS

DONCASTER

OVERSEAS PLANTS IN CANADA

· SOUTH AFRICA

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· BIRMINGHAM. ST. ASAPH.

AUSTRALIA J NEW ZEALAND . ARGENTINA

GLASGOW •

BIRKENHEAD

BRAZIL

·

PONTYPOOL QUEENBOROUGH

AHTISH

SHEWAN, TOMES & CO, LTD.

Building and Hardware Dept: 9 Ice House Street H.K., Tel: 27781-3.

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