Flat Glass Market Overview

The most important markets for flat glass are the building and automotive industries. The largest of this market is the building industry which account for 80 to 85% of the output. The majority of the remaining 15 to 20% is processed into glazing for the automotive industry and a small part is used for solar applications. Though a small one, the flat glass for solar applications market is growing steadily.

Of the total output of flat glass produced each year in Europe around 95% is high-quality float glass that will be processed into other products by way of further treatments such as laminating, toughening, coating, silvering and then assembling into insulating glass units.

In the building industry, insulating glazing units, either double or triple glazed often with a layer of coated glass, are the most important applications accounting for 40 to 50% of the market. The rest of the market is made up of silvered, coated, toughened, and laminated products.

The primary usages of float glass in the automotive industry are windscreens, backlights, side and rear glazing as well as sunroofs. Flat glass for these applications is often laminated, tempered and/or coated to guarantee durability, safety and comfort in vehicles. The same principles apply for other means of transports such as trucks, buses, trains and planes.

Extra-clear glass, either float or patterned, and toughened clear float glass with low-iron oxide content are especially designed for use in solar applications, be it for solar thermal panels or integrated photovoltaic modules.

Flat glass is also used in much smaller quantities, for many different applications like interior fittings and decoration, furniture, 'street furniture' like bus stops, household and industrial appliances and electronics, and others.