The earliest known glass manufacturing dates back to around 3500BC, with finds in Egypt and Eastern Mesopotamia. Discovery of glassblowing around 1st century BC was a major breakthrough in glass making
Today glass is being used in many industries including:construction,automotive,sports, recreation, food service and the kitchen. Construction and Civil Engineering news reviews the top glass manufacturers in the world.
Saint-Gobain(France)
Compagnie de Saint-Gobain S.A. is a French multinational corporation, founded in 1665 in Paris and headquartered on the outskirts of Paris, at La Défense and in Courbevoie. It is the leading glass manufacturer in the world.Originally a mirror manufacturer, it now also produces a variety of construction, high-performance, and other materials.
The company is designs , produces and distributes high quality photovoltaic glass and many other types of glass. The compoany’s annual revenue is estimated to be $47.7 billion.
AGC(Japan)
AGC is a Japanese company that produces, processes and distributes flat glass for the building industry (external glazing and interior decorative glass), the automotive industry (OEM and replacement glass) and various other sectors (transport, solar power and high-tech applications). The company is one of the biggest glass manufacturers in the world.
The AGC group has 200 companies in over 30 countries with more than 50,000 employees, focusing on 4 main business segments: Glass, Electronics, Chemicals and Ceramics. The company’s annual revenue is estimated to be about $11 billion.
Corning Inc.(USA)
Based in the USA, Corning is one of the world’s leading innovators in materials science, with a 169-year track record of life-changing inventions. Corning applies its unparalleled expertise in glass science, ceramics science, and optical physics, along with its deep manufacturing and engineering capabilities, to develop category-defining products that transform industries and enhance people’s lives.
Corning succeeds through sustained investment in RD&E, a unique combination of material and process innovation, and deep, trust-based relationships with customers who are global leaders in their industries. Annual revenue stands at about 11.8 billion.
PPG(USA)
Also in the list of leading glass manufacturers in the world is PPG. Founded in 1883 as Pittsburgh Plate Glass by Captain John B. Ford and John Pitcairn in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Today, PPG is a global supplier of paints, coatings, optical products, and specialty materials.
Through leadership in innovation, sustainability and color, PPG helps customers in industrial, transportation, consumer products, and construction markets and aftermarkets to enhance more surfaces in more ways than does any other company. The company utilizes latedt technology to produce top notch glass. It uses oxy-fuel furnace technology for its starphire glass becoming the first company to do so.
Total Net Sales for PPG as of 2019 was $15.1 billion. The company is ranked 209 on the Fortune 500. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: PPG).
Nippon Sheet Glass Co. (Japan)
Nippon Sheet Glass Company, Limited is one of the world’s leaders in manufacturing and marketing panes and pane systems. The company was founded in 1918 an has annual revenue of about $5 billion.Nippon Sheet Glass Company, Limited manufactures a variety of glass related products. The products include flat glass for construction, building materials, automobiles, and glass fiber products. Nippon Sheet Glass also develops glass for electronics such as plasma panels and opto-electronic devices.
Pilkington(UK)
Pilkington is a Japanese-owned glass-manufacturing company which is based in Lathom, Lancashire, United Kingdom. In the UK it includes several legal entities and is a subsidiary of Japanese company NSG Group.
The company was founded in 1826 as a partnership between members of the Pilkington and Greenall families, based in St Helens, Lancashire.The venture used the trading name of St Helens Crown Glass Company.On the departure from the partnership of the last Greenall in 1845, the firm became known as Pilkington Brothers.In July 1849, the business was incorporated under the Companies Act 1862 as Pilkington Brothers Limited.
Vitro(Mexico)
Vitro is a mexican glass company that started operations in 1909 in Nuevo León. In 1929, the company inaugurated its first Flat Glass Factory. In 1935, Vitro started exporting its products to other Latin American countries.
Throughout Vitro’s history, the Company has demonstrated a commitment to developing industry-leading technologies through continuous research and development initiatives and investments.
Cornwall Glass(England)
Established for over 40 years, Cornwall Glass is a family owned business specialising in the manufacture and production of glass and glazing products and services.
Cornwall Glass can produce and supply glass products to compliment any style of property and our friendly teams are on hand to advise and work with you on projects large and small.The company’s glaziers operate from all our locations offering a first class, flexible and professional service.
Sichuan Shubo Group(China)
Sichuan Shubo (Group) Co., Ltd. manufactures and distributes glass products. The Chinese company produces float glass, stained glass, bullet proof glass, tempered glass, and other related products. Sichuan Shubo (Group) markets its products worldwide.
Guardian Industries(USA)
Closing the top ten list of largest glass manufacturers in the world is Guardian Industries. It is a privately held industrial manufacturer of glass, automotive and building products based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The company manufactures float glass, fabricated glass products, fiberglass insulation and building materials for commercial, residential and automotive applications. The company employs more than 18,000 people and has present activities in North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Guardian Industries was founded in 1932 as Guardian Glass Company. The company was originally established as a small windshield fabricator.
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