Nippon Sheet Glass
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese glass
manufacturer. In 2006 it purchased Pilkington
of the United Kingdom. This makes NSG/Pilkington one of the four largest glass companies in the world alongside with another Japanese company Asahi Glass, Saint-Gobain
, and Guardian Industries Corp.
.
, after it obtained technology from Libbey Owens Ford
Glass Co. of the United States
to produce flat glass
using the Colburn process. The company changed its name to the Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd. in January 1931. It expanded operations across Japan post World War II
, and in October 1970 acquired Nippon Safety Glass Co., Ltd. In April 1999 the company merged with Nippon Glass Fiber Co., Ltd. and Micro Optics Co., Ltd. In Apr 2001 the company acquired Nippon Muki Co., Ltd. and in July 2004 moved the registered head office from Osaka to Minato Ward
in Tokyo
.
of the United Kingdom
in 2001, in 2006 NSG purchased the residual 80% of shares, a company then double its size.
The Group's Flat Glass businesses, encompassing Building Products and Automotive Products, account for 90 per cent of annual sales, with the balance being in Specialty Glass. The Specialty Glass business covers a number of niche markets, the most important of which are in displays and optical products for printers and copiers.
The Group has major market shares in most building and automotive product markets of the world, with a broad geographic reach, enabling it to respond to customers whose Operations, particularly in the case of Automotive OE, are increasingly global.
Geographically, 42 per cent of the Group's sales are in Europe, 28 per cent in Japan and 13 per cent in North America, with the rest primarily in South America, South East Asia and China.
ref>About NSG | NSG Corporate Website
Glass
Glass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives...
manufacturer. In 2006 it purchased Pilkington
Pilkington
Pilkington Group Limited is a multinational glass manufacturing company headquartered in St Helens, United Kingdom. It is a subsidiary of the Japan-based NSG Group...
of the United Kingdom. This makes NSG/Pilkington one of the four largest glass companies in the world alongside with another Japanese company Asahi Glass, Saint-Gobain
Saint-Gobain
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. Originally a mirror manufacturer, it now also produces a variety of construction and high-performance materials.The company has its head...
, and Guardian Industries Corp.
Guardian Industries Corp.
Guardian Industries is a privately held industrial manufacturer of glass, automotive and building products based in Auburn Hills, Michigan-History:...
.
History
The company was established in November 1918 as America Japan Sheet Glass Co., Ltd. with its head office in OsakaOsaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, after it obtained technology from Libbey Owens Ford
Libbey Owens Ford
The Libbey–Owens–Ford Company was a producer of flat glass for the automotive and building products industries both for original equipment manufacturers and for replacement use. The company's headquarters and main factories were located in Toledo, Ohio, with large float glass plants in Rossford,...
Glass Co. of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to produce flat glass
Flat glass
Flat glass, sheet glass, or plate glass is a type of glass, initially produced in plane form, commonly used for windows, glass doors, transparent walls, and windshields. For modern architectural and automotive applications, the flat glass is sometimes bent after production of the plane sheet...
using the Colburn process. The company changed its name to the Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd. in January 1931. It expanded operations across Japan post World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and in October 1970 acquired Nippon Safety Glass Co., Ltd. In April 1999 the company merged with Nippon Glass Fiber Co., Ltd. and Micro Optics Co., Ltd. In Apr 2001 the company acquired Nippon Muki Co., Ltd. and in July 2004 moved the registered head office from Osaka to Minato Ward
Minato, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. As of 1 March 2008, it had an official population of 217,335 and a population density of 10,865 persons per km². The total area is 20.34 km².Minato hosts 49 embassies...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
.
Pilkington
In 1986, Pilkington bought Libbey Owens Ford. Following an agreed acquisition of 20% of PilkingtonPilkington
Pilkington Group Limited is a multinational glass manufacturing company headquartered in St Helens, United Kingdom. It is a subsidiary of the Japan-based NSG Group...
of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 2001, in 2006 NSG purchased the residual 80% of shares, a company then double its size.
Present
Founded in 1918, NSG acquired the leading UK-based glass manufacturer Pilkington plc in June 2006. Today, the enlarged company has combined sales of approximately JPY 600 billion, with manufacturing operations in 29 countries and sales in 130 countries, employing some 28,500 people worldwide.The Group's Flat Glass businesses, encompassing Building Products and Automotive Products, account for 90 per cent of annual sales, with the balance being in Specialty Glass. The Specialty Glass business covers a number of niche markets, the most important of which are in displays and optical products for printers and copiers.
The Group has major market shares in most building and automotive product markets of the world, with a broad geographic reach, enabling it to respond to customers whose Operations, particularly in the case of Automotive OE, are increasingly global.
Geographically, 42 per cent of the Group's sales are in Europe, 28 per cent in Japan and 13 per cent in North America, with the rest primarily in South America, South East Asia and China.
ref>About NSG | NSG Corporate Website
Home use
- SPACIA :Double glazing with vacuum layer at center plane. (Eco-Glass)
- SECUO :Security glass as laminated glass with resin sheet.
- PAIR REIBORG :Double glazing, sunshading and high-thermal insulating glass with special metal coating. (Eco-Glass)
- PAIR REIBORG HIKARI :Photocatalytic cleaning glass with REIBORG. (Eco-Glass)
- HOME TOUGH LIGHT :Toughened glass with 5 times toughness as normal glass.
Building use
- UMU :Electric controlled switching glass with transparent or photo scattered.
Telecom・IT use
- SELFOC :Flat-end-type Rod lens with grated index by ion exchange (self focus)
- SLA SELFOC LENS ARRAY :Arrayed Selfoc lens for scanning image like a copy-machine or printer.
Automobile use
- LAMIPANE :Laminated glass for windshield.
- THERLITE-T :Heater line installed Unti-fogging glass.