It was reported in mid-October that Japanese Central Glass will start manufacturing high-strain-point glass substrates used for plasma display panels (PDP), using its in-house-developed technology. Th…
It was reported in mid-October that Japanese Central Glass will start manufacturing high-strain-point glass substrates used for plasma display panels (PDP), using its in-house-developed technology. The existing float glass line can be adjusted to make the new glass, the company says. Although demand for PDP glass substrate is expected to continue to grow rapidly, competition will be intensified. Nippon Sheet Glass has previously just moved into the field, and Asahi Glass and Nippon Electric Glass already manufacture the product. Central Glass“s high-strain-point glass is used for substrates on both the front and the back of a PDP. The glass strain point is the temperature at which glass starts distorting. Central Glass says its new glass has a strain point of between 583 and 598C, higher than the 570C strain point of equivalent products. Because the new glass has higher heat resistance, it has superior heat strain and shrinkage properties, the company explains. The glass was developed by reducing the silica content and increasing the alkali metal content compared with ordinary soda lime glass. Adjustments can be made to the glass, in terms of thickness, length, etc., to meet user“s specific needs. The company has already begun sample shipments to users, and is ready to mass-produce, to order, at lower costs. Because of its higher quality and lower price, the firm hopes it will post annual sales of JPY 3 billion within three years, commanding a market share of 20%. Central Glass wants to raise its speciality-glass-to-total-glass-sales ratio from the current 20% to 30% as soon as possible.