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The Daily Insight Hub

Who is the biggest manufacturer of glass?

Author

Matthew Harrington

Updated on January 06, 2026

Saint-Gobain S.A.
The French multinational corporation Saint-Gobain S.A. has been the leading glass producer in the world based on revenue for some time. As of 2019, Saint-Gobain’s revenue amounted to 49.3 billion dollars, and was accordingly the leading glass company by far based on this metric.

What companies make glass for buildings?

About the Largest Glass Manufacturers

  • Pella Corp. Pella Corp. is a window and door manufacturer.
  • Viracon. Viracon is an Owatonna, Minn., company with 2,000 employees.
  • Anchor Hocking Co.
  • SMR Automotive.
  • Corning Inc.
  • Gallo Glass Co.

What kind of glass do skyscrapers use?

High-rise buildings use heat-strengthened glass instead of tempered or laminated glass to help withstand pressure and suction forces from the strong winds. Also, it allows for the retention and insulation of heat.

Where is most glass manufactured?

The 5 biggest exporters (China, Germany, United States, Hong Kong, France) generated about half (49.5%) of globally exported glass and glassware in 2020. Made principally from silica, glass is a hardened material that is typically transparent but can also be produced in many different colors and textures.

Why is it called float glass?

Float glass owes its unique name to the process by which it is manufactured wherein the molten glass is introduced into a bath of molten tin, causing the glass to float freely.

What is the most expensive glassware?

The most expensive piece of glassware ever sold at auction was a Roman glass bowl, intact after 1,700 years of existence. The Constable-Maxwell cage-cup – an oil lamp – sold for £2,646,650.00 at auction at Bonhams to a phone bidder.

Who makes glass in the US?

Table 1: Key North American Glass Suppliers Identified by Niche

NicheCompanyAnnual Revenue**
Decorative GlassGardner Glass Products$40.7 million
Food and BeverageOwens-Illinois$6.8 billion
Scientific GlassThermoFisher Scientific$250+ Million
Specialty GlassPegasus Glassworks Inc.$13.4 million

Is toughened glass stronger than concrete?

They’re stronger than concrete, and are capable of withstanding the force of a car crash. The glass bricks are potentially an eco-friendly construction innovation too. They’re totally reusable, and can be melted down to make new materials.

How strong is glass in skyscrapers?

Glass actually is quite strong, especially if it is fully supported on all four sides, as it is in a typical glazing unit. Now, there are some exceptions: glass closer to the floor than 18″ must be tempered or laminated by code. Glass that is used as a railing must be tempered or laminated.

What country is known for glass blowing?

In between lies Sweden’s famous “Glasriket,” Glass Country, sparkling with glassblowing studios. It’s no surprise that glassmaking caught on here. The necessary resources are abundant: The region is densely forested (endless wood to fire the ovens) and blanketed with lakes (ample sand to melt into glass).

Who are the largest glass manufacturers in the world?

Billing itself as an “Architectural and Commercial Glass Specialist,” Cornwall Glass launched in Plymouth, England in 1978. Cornwall Glass is a family-owned glass manufacturer and glazing company. Sichuan Shubo Group produces float glass, stained glass, bulletproof glass, tempered glass, and other related products for global markets.

What kind of glass does Beijing glass group make?

Beijing Glass Group Company produces daily glass, industrial glass, technical glass, as well as quartz and silicon materials, high-grade fused refractories, photovoltaic cell components, and eyewear and eye care products.

Where are the most skyscrapers in the world?

In every direction you look, countless high-rise buildings are stacked side by side, clustered together, like a real-world version of the game Tetris. In fact, Hong Kong is home to more skyscrapers than anywhere else.

Who are the architects of the glass skyscraper?

The now-ubiquitous glass skyscraper is one of the results of this exploration of which the Crystal Palace was a pioneer. With thanks to modernist architects like Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, our modern cities are literally filled with them.