Pilkington
A historic British glass manufacturer best known for commercializing the float-glass process and supplying architectural, automotive and technical glass.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Pilkington is a historic British glass-manufacturing brand whose origins date to 1826, when a partnership of the Pilkington and Greenall families established the St Helens Crown Glass Company in Lancashire. After the Greenall family left the partnership in 1845, the business became known as Pilkington Brothers. It was incorporated as Pilkington Brothers Limited in 1894 and developed into one of Britain's most important glass producers, with St Helens as its traditional industrial and corporate base. The business later moved its principal headquarters to Lathom, Lancashire, while its historic St Helens presence remained an important part of the brand's identity. Pilkington's early growth was built on plate and sheet glass. By 1903 it was the sole British manufacturer of plate glass and the country's leading sheet-glass producer. The company expanded manufacturing capacity and international sales during the first half of the twentieth century, relying partly on exports to offset competition from continental European producers. After the First World War, it was one of only two large British glass manufacturers remaining, alongside Chance Brothers. Pilkington progressively acquired an interest in Chance and completed its acquisition in 1951. The company's defining technological achievement came in the 1950s, when employees Alastair Pilkington and Kenneth Bickerstaff developed a commercially practical float-glass process. The technique forms a continuous sheet by allowing molten glass to spread across a bath of molten tin. It produces broad, flat and relatively uniform glass without the extensive grinding and polishing previously required for clear plate glass. Pilkington patented and licensed the process internationally. Licensing income helped fund the construction of overseas plants and acquisitions, while the process eventually became the dominant method for manufacturing modern flat glass. During the 1960s and 1970s, Pilkington expanded internationally through new plants, licensing arrangements and acquisitions in markets including Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the United States. Through its relationship with Triplex Safety Glass, it also became a significant supplier of laminated and toughened safety glass for automobiles, buildings and aerospace applications. The company was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1970 and became a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index during its period as an independent public company. Pilkington's history also includes labor conflict, competition-law scrutiny and corporate takeovers. A major 1970 strike followed errors in wage payments and later became the subject of Ken Loach's film The Rank and File, although the film used a fictional company and location. In the 1990s, United States authorities challenged restrictions associated with Pilkington's float-glass licensing network; a 1994 consent decree removed several territorial and customer restrictions. In 2008, the European Commission fined Pilkington and other manufacturers over a car-windscreen price-fixing scheme. Nippon Sheet Glass, commonly known as NSG Group, acquired Pilkington in 2006 after a contested bid process. Pilkington now operates within NSG's global architectural, automotive and creative-technology glass businesses. The brand remains associated with float glass, safety glazing, solar-control and low-emissivity products, self-cleaning Pilkington Activ glass, automotive glazing and specialized technical glass. Its commercial identity combines a long British industrial history with the international manufacturing and distribution capabilities of NSG Group.
History
Pilkington began in 1826 as the St Helens Crown Glass Company, a partnership between members of the Pilkington and Greenall families. The business expanded in St Helens and became a major local employer. When the last Greenall partner departed in 1845, the company adopted the name Pilkington Brothers; it was incorporated as Pilkington Brothers Limited in 1894. By 1903, it had become Britain's sole plate-glass manufacturer and the leading domestic sheet-glass producer. The company invested in new facilities and export markets during the early twentieth century. A plate-glass works opened near Doncaster in 1922, while overseas sales and links across the British Empire and South America helped Pilkington withstand pressure from Belgian and other European competitors. After the First World War, the British industry had contracted substantially. Pilkington and Chance Brothers were the two principal surviving large manufacturers. They reached various agreements concerning the domestic market, and Pilkington gradually acquired Chance shares before taking full control in 1951. Pilkington emerged from the Second World War in comparatively strong condition after meeting Britain's wartime requirements and maintaining export activity. Post-war changes to commercial practices, including the impact of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1956, altered earlier market arrangements. The most important development of the era was the invention of float glass by Alastair Pilkington and Kenneth Bickerstaff between 1953 and 1957. Molten glass was floated over molten tin to create a smooth, continuous sheet. Pilkington licensed the technique throughout the world, generating royalties and extending its influence over the international flat-glass industry. Royalty income and technical leadership supported major international expansion in the 1960s and 1970s. Pilkington established or financed float-glass operations in countries including Argentina, Australia, Canada and Sweden and acquired producers in the United States, Germany and France. Its Triplex Safety Glass interests made it an important supplier of laminated and toughened products for automotive, construction and aerospace customers. A 1967 Monopolies Commission report regarded the operations as efficient despite the company's substantial share of the British market. Pilkington became a publicly traded company in 1970. The 1970s also brought a prolonged industrial dispute after errors in workers' wage packets. The dispute was later fictionalized in Ken Loach's film The Rank and File. In 1985, BTR Industries attempted to acquire Pilkington, but management resisted and the offer was withdrawn in 1987. During the 1990s, the company's control over float-glass licensing attracted antitrust action in the United States. Pilkington entered a consent decree in 1994 that ended specified restrictions on licensees and non-licensees. Pilkington received takeover proposals from Japan's Nippon Sheet Glass in 2005. Following revisions to the offer, key shareholders accepted the transaction in February 2006, and the acquisition was completed in June. Pilkington became part of NSG Group, while continuing to operate as a recognizable glass brand. Its later product portfolio has included architectural, automotive, coated, self-cleaning, laminated, toughened and technical glass. The Pilkington Activ product uses a photocatalytic coating and hydrophilic behavior to help sunlight break down organic dirt and rain remove it from the surface. The brand's Australian and New Zealand operations were sold by NSG to CSR in 2006 and later operated under the Viridian name, illustrating that the Pilkington name does not represent every business historically associated with the group.
- 2006
NSG Group completes the acquisition
[1]Pilkington becomes a subsidiary of Japan's Nippon Sheet Glass.
- 2006
Acquisition by NSG Corporation completed
[2]NSG Corporation completed its acquisition of Pilkington, establishing the ownership structure behind the modern NSG Group.
- 1970
Pilkington is floated on the London Stock Exchange
[1]The previously privately held business becomes a public company.
- 1959
Float-glass process announced commercially
[3]Pilkington introduced its float-glass process, which later became the dominant method for manufacturing high-quality flat glass.
- 1952
Float-glass development begins
[3]Alastair Pilkington and Kenneth Bickerstaff developed the float-glass concept, using molten tin to support a ribbon of molten glass; the commercially practical process was developed during the 1950s.
- 1951
Acquisition of Chance Brothers is completed
[1]Pilkington takes full ownership of the other major surviving British glass manufacturer.
- 1950
Float-glass development begins
[1]Alastair Pilkington and Kenneth Bickerstaff develop the commercially practical float-glass process during the 1950s.
- 1903
Becomes Britain's leading plate and sheet-glass producer
[1]Pilkington becomes the country's sole plate-glass manufacturer and dominant sheet-glass producer.
- 1894
Incorporation as Pilkington Brothers Limited
[1]The company is incorporated under the Companies Act 1862.
- 1845
The business becomes Pilkington Brothers
[1]The departure of the last Greenall partner leads to the adoption of the Pilkington Brothers name.
Products and positioning
A technology-led global glass brand combining British manufacturing heritage with high-performance architectural, automotive and specialty glazing solutions. A technologically oriented, international glass brand positioned around high-performance architectural glazing, automotive glass, safety products, solar and thermal control, specialty applications and the industrial heritage of the float-glass process.
Flat glass · 1950
Pilkington float glass
Pilkington's signature technology produces continuous flat glass by floating molten glass over molten tin. The method delivers broad, smooth and optically consistent sheets and displaced older production methods that required substantial grinding and polishing. Pilkington licensed the process internationally, making it one of the most influential technologies in modern architectural and automotive glazing. Clear, tinted and other base flat-glass products manufactured using the float process provide the starting material for construction glazing, mirrors, coated glass, laminated products, insulating units and a range of industrial applications. Clear, tinted and other base flat-glass products manufactured using the float process. They provide the starting material for construction glazing, mirrors, coated glass, laminated products, insulating units and a range of industrial applications.
Coated architectural glass · 2001
Pilkington Activ
A self-cleaning glass line using a photocatalytic coating. Sunlight helps decompose organic deposits, while the coating's hydrophilic behavior allows rainwater to spread across the pane and carry loosened dirt away. It is intended for architectural applications where reduced cleaning requirements are valuable. A self-cleaning glass range using a photocatalytic and hydrophilic coating. The coating helps organic dirt break down under daylight and allows rainwater to spread across the surface, reducing visible residue and maintenance requirements in suitable exterior applications.
Automotive and architectural glass
Safety glass
Pilkington has long supplied laminated and toughened safety glass through its historic Triplex activities and wider product portfolio. These products are used in vehicle glazing, buildings and other applications where impact behavior, containment and improved safety performance are required.
Architectural glass
Energy-efficient coated glass
The brand's coated-glass offerings include products designed to improve thermal performance, solar control, daylight management and building-envelope efficiency. Such products are used in windows, façades and other glazing systems, often as components of insulated or laminated assemblies.
Architectural glazing
Pilkington architectural glass
A broad family of glass products for façades, windows, roofs and interiors. Depending on the specification, products can provide daylight, solar control, thermal insulation, privacy, decoration, acoustic performance or improved safety through lamination and toughening.
Low-iron architectural glass
Pilkington Optiwhite
A low-iron glass product designed to provide high light transmission and a clearer, more neutral appearance than standard clear glass. It is used where visual clarity, colour fidelity and transparency are important, including façades, interiors, display applications and solar-related uses.
Solar-control coated glass
Pilkington Suncool
A family of solar-control coated glasses intended to limit solar heat gain while maintaining useful daylight and outward visibility. These products are used in commercial and residential façades where designers need to balance cooling loads, glare, transparency and appearance.
Structural glass system
Pilkington Planar
A structural glazing system associated with frameless or minimally framed architectural designs. It supports the use of glass in façades, entrances, canopies and other structures where visual openness and engineered fixing details are important.
Fire-resistant glazing
Pilkington Pyrostop and Pyrodur
Fire-resistant glazing ranges designed for applications requiring controlled integrity, insulation or both during a fire-resistance period specified by the relevant system and certification. They are used in doors, screens, partitions, façades and other building assemblies.
Automotive glazing
Pilkington automotive glass
Vehicle glazing for original equipment and replacement applications, including windscreens, side windows and backlights. Automotive products may be engineered for solar control, acoustic performance, head-up-display compatibility, antenna integration and advanced driver-assistance sensor requirements.
Controversies
2008
Automotive-glass price-fixing investigation
The European Commission fined Pilkington and three other glass manufacturers over participation in a multi-year price-fixing scheme involving car windscreens.
1994
United States float-glass antitrust case
The United States Department of Justice alleged that Pilkington used its licensing network to limit where licensees could build plants, sell glass and serve customers. A consent decree agreed by the parties prohibited enforcement of specified restrictions against US licensees and certain exporters.
Brand decisions
2006
Accept NSG Group's takeoverM&ABackground
Nippon Sheet Glass had accumulated a significant stake and made successive offers for the remaining shares.
Action taken
Pilkington's key shareholders accepted NSG's increased offer, and the transaction was completed in June 2006.
Aftermath
Pilkington became a subsidiary and brand within NSG Group's global glass business.
Offer for the shares not already owned by NSG. 165 pence per share (February 2006)
2006
Join NSG Corporation through acquisitionM&ABackground
Pilkington operated in an increasingly international and consolidated glass industry, while NSG Corporation sought to expand its global flat-glass and automotive-glass position.
Action taken
NSG Corporation completed the acquisition of Pilkington and incorporated the business into the group that became NSG Group.
Aftermath
Pilkington continued as a major brand and operating business within NSG Group rather than as an independent listed company.
1970
Convert to a public companyStrategyBackground
Ownership had previously been concentrated among Pilkington descendants and employee trusts.
Action taken
Pilkington was floated on the London Stock Exchange.
Aftermath
The listing gave the company access to public capital while it continued expanding its international manufacturing and acquisition program.
1950
Commercialize and license the float-glass processProduct launchBackground
Traditional plate-glass production required costly finishing to obtain clear, flat surfaces.
Action taken
Pilkington developed a practical float process and licensed it to manufacturers in multiple countries.
Aftermath
Float glass became the standard production method for much of the world's flat glass, while licensing royalties supported Pilkington's international expansion.
Recent events
Pilkington confirms Neil Syder as incoming managing director[5]
Reported:
Pilkington United Kingdom Limited confirmed that Neil Syder would take over as managing director from Matt Buckley, with the change planned to take effect at the end of December 2021.
Sources5 sources
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