The manufacturing of flat glass is a highly sophisticated industrial process that plays a central role primarily in construction, the automotive industry, and displays. The most common method used today is the float glass process, which ensures uniform and high-quality glass surfaces.
In flat glass production, raw materials such as quartz sand, soda ash, lime, and dolomite are first mixed. These glass raw materials are liquefied in a melting furnace at temperatures of approximately 1,600 degrees Celsius. The resulting glass melt is clear, homogeneous, and free of bubbles.
Subsequently, the molten glass flows onto a bath of liquid tin. Since glass is lighter than tin, it floats on the surface and spreads out evenly. This float process enables a particularly smooth and flat surface – a decisive advantage for window and facade glass.
After controlled cooling, the flat glass is cut to size and further processed depending on the area of application, for example into tempered safety glass, laminated safety glass, or coated thermal insulation glass. This results in modern flat glass that meets the highest standards of quality, energy efficiency, and safety.
