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Saint-Gobain Flat Glass Division

Saint-Gobain Flat Glass Division operates in 33 countries with over 35,000 employees. The Flat Glass Division produces, processes and markets glass products.

Glazing for the automobile sector
Glazing for the building sector
Glazing for "specialties" (fireproof glass optics for industry, nuclear protection glass, commercial refrigeration …)

The basic product, clear or tinted glass, is made on floats in large industrial units that also produce high-value-added glazing. The glass is then processed in small or medium-sized units for applications in the building market and in large industrial units for applications in the automobile market. The Division also has companies that specialise in making glass products for the aerospace and transport industries, optics, household electrical appliances and electronics. The Division obtains a high level of quality in all its businesses. All its plants have quality systems to guarantee customers the quality they require.

Flat Glass manufacturing: today's processes

The floating process became standard during the sixties. This technique involves discharging the ribbon of molten glass from the furnace and then floating it onto a bath of molten tin. This technique enables the glass to be cut directly without having to be polished beforehand. The raw materials used in the glass composition are:

Oxide/alumina/magnesia (5 %)
Lime (10 %)
Soda (14 %)
Silica (70 to 72 %