Windshields, Side and Back Glass Production Processes

[Mark F.]

Recent posts regarding windshields made me think that some folks out there may not have seen how automotive glass is made. Having worked at PPG and Ford (they made their own glass when I was there), I was in many glass plants (float and fabrication) and saw all of these processes first hand. It was fascinating to see these hot and very noisy (high pressure air quenching for tempering) operations...

The first video is a PPG link. It's short (~3") but gives you a nice overview of the basic steps involved in mass production (fabrication) of automotive glass: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP-N0SVbzWU

The second video is a Pilkington link. It's longer (~6"), but shows the steps involved in custom, "one-off" hand-made automotive glass: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg92LDhHYuA

The last video is also a PPG link that shows the float glass process used to make that flat glass stock that is then cut to shape and fabricated into the automotive glass pieces as shown in the first two videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j2TJQUOdLg

I also thought it was interesting that both PPG videos have Corvettes in them! enjoy...

[John F.]

Re: Windshields, Side and Back Glass Production Processes

Great videos. I grew up right down the road from LOF in Ottawa,Illinois. Thanks!
John

[Mark F.]

Re: Windshields, Side and Back Glass Production Processes

Great videos. I grew up right down the road from LOF in Ottawa, Illinois. Thanks! John

Good deal, John - I'm glad you liked them!

I visited (worked one job that I remember) at the Mt Zion IL PPG plant...probably only two hours or so from where you grew up!