Nippon Sheet Glass (NSG) intends to boost the productivity of its domestic float glass production facilities by introducing the technologies and expertise of UK glass major Pilkington Plc, which it ma…
Nippon Sheet Glass (NSG) intends to boost the productivity of its domestic float glass production facilities by introducing the technologies and expertise of UK glass major Pilkington Plc, which it made a wholly-owned subsidiary in July 2006. It is also aiming for a 10% increase in the melting capacity of its four float glass furnaces in Japan. NSG had been developing its own method for expanding float glass production but found the implementation too risky as it only had four furnace units at its Chiba and Maizuru plants. But Pilkington, the inventor of the float glass process with nearly 40 float glass furnaces worldwide, has developed innovative technologies and expertise as well as extensive experience of both success and failure. The positive incorporation of such technological strengths will allow NSG to control the risks involved in expanding its melting capacity. The spare capacity generated by the increased production will be diverted to lifting production of functional glass, in which the domestic plants excel. One strategy envisages the centralization at the Chiba plant of production of glass substrates for thin-film solar cells, whose global demand is expected to soar, thus strengthening its cost competitivity.