It is difficult to conceive the contemporary architecture without glass. Glass is a non-crystalline amorphous solid that is often transparent and has wide spread practical, technological, and decorative usage in, for example, window panes, tableware, and optoelectronics. Regardless of it being used for windows, facade or interior partitions, glass connects the space, improves the quality of space, transmits sufficient light, and the contemporary types of glass may contribute to energy saving. It is known that energy saving is one of the most important architectonic challenges of our age.
The wide variety of architectural glass commercially available coupled with the versatility and creativity one can explore with the material makes the design process exciting and challenging. There are hundreds of glass compositions as well as different coatings, colors, thick-nesses, and laminates, all of which affect the way light passes through the material.
Glass is a brittle material and characteristically exhibits compressive strength much greater than its tensile strength. Strengthing techniques most of which involve prestressing to introduce surface compression, have been developed to the paint where glass can be employed it more arudaus environments than previously.
Glass sheet is becoming more and more popular in commercial applications as it allows structures to be constructed that give the impression of being outside with the benefits of being inside protected from the elements (with the exception of the sun). Glass is also playing an increasing role in buildings where it provides an attractive and easy to maintain exterior surface. It should be noted that most glass used for this application is subject to a post heat treatment toughening process before use.
The glass industry represents a number of definable product segments: (a) flat glass including Float Glass, (b) glass containers and hollowware, (c) vacuum glass, (d) domestic and industrial glassware, (e) crystal glass, (f) fibreglass, (g) glass wool, (h) TV picture tube glass shells, and (i) laboratory glass. Most of the glass products have both industrial and consumer usages. Laboratory glass is a minor constituent. So are fibreglass and glasswool - although fibreglass is gaining momentum increasingly.
The two main entrants in the glass industry in the recent years have been Float Glass (a technological variant of flat or sheet glass) and crystalware. Fibreglass and glass wool are still a small turnover industry but has been operating in India for quite some time. Float Glass is a capital intensive process and the minimum economic size calls for a large investment. The segment witnessed the creation of large capacities in a very short time. The demand for float glass witnessed a phenomenal growth due to the comparative product quality at a relatively acceptable price. India exports about 13,000 tonne of glass per month to the Middle East, African countries, Europe and South America. The rapid increase in the demand for flat glass in the domestic market has resulted in a cutback in exports by as much as 60% in the last couple of years.Thus, as an entrepreneur this project offers an exciting opportunity to you.
Few Indian Major Players are as under
Asahi India Glass Ltd.
Atul Glass Inds. Ltd.
Auroplast India Ltd.
Cherry Fashions Ltd.
Float Glass India Ltd.
Gobind Glass &Inds. Ltd.
Gold Plus Glass Industry Ltd.
Gujarat Borosil Ltd.
Gujarat Guardian Ltd.
H N G Float Glass Ltd.
Haryana Sheet Glass Ltd.
I A G Co. Ltd.
Mahalaxmi
Dyes & Chemicals Ltd.
Saint-Gobain India Pvt. Ltd.
Saint-Gobain Sekurit India Ltd.
Triveni Glass Ltd.