Flat Glass

Purchase flat glass as small as a fingertip or as large as a wall
By Mark McGee There isn’t as much diversity among flat glass suppliers as there is in other industries. Most suppliers can be broken down into three groups: architectural, production and specialty. Architectural suppliers deal with flat panel glass used as primary inner or outer walls of buildings. Production suppliers create glass for specific uses, like furniture or automotive windows. Specialty suppliers make the exceptionally clear flat glass used in watch faces, gauges or tools.
 

Most flat glass manufacturers use the same processes to make their glass: the float glass method or the rolled glass method. Float glass is always large sheets of perfectly smooth glass, so any texture or frosting happens later. Rolled glass is either flat or textured based on the surface used. This difference may affect the final price. Think about the following when choosing flat glass:

1. Flat glass suppliers make either architectural, production or specialty glass, so choose the supplier most appropriate for your needs.

2. A single flat glass supplier can help you with many types of glass needs.

3. The type of flat glass production used can affect the final cost.

Find large flat glass manufacturers for constructing impressive glass buildings

Architects use this type of glass to make massive glass buildings and interior walls. This glass is also the most technically advanced, as interior and exterior glass protects from the elements, internal fires and even bullets.
Try: For one of the largest flat glass distributors in the world look no further that AGC Flat Glass. Its site contains information on a large assortment of float glass as well as a browser application that helps you determine your glass needs. Part of Saint-Gobain, another international distributor, Vetrotech specializes in fire resistant glass for building interiors. California Glass Bending also makes specialized glass, such as bulletproof or sound dampening.

Use flat panel glass to create striking glass products

Production level glass makes everything from mirrors to glass tables to car windows. It comes in a huge variety of sizes and textures.
Try: Autover is another division of the internationally known Saint-Gobain that specializes completely in automotive glass. They have a huge selection of primary and aftermarket glass products available. For an impressive selection of different glass textures and production pieces, look at Maryland Glass and Mirror Company.

Use specialty suppliers for the flat round glass used in gages and instrumentation

This group often has the most exacting specifications of all the glass types. The specifications for width and thickness are often done down to the millimeter.
Try: If you need extremely thin glass with exacting tolerances, then Naugatuck Glass has several types and finishes from which to choose. For thicker specialty glass, try Rolyn Optics. They have a large selection of different types of small flat glass.

• If you used flat glass producers in the past but now need a different type of glass, contact your original supplier first. Due to the consistent overlap in the industry, you might be able to stick with a known company.