The science, technology, brilliance and beauty behind glass will be revealed in this dramatic exhibition March 13 – September 1, 2008.
The Chicago museum is the largest and most comprehensive science center in the United States. This exciting exhibit will travel through time to witness the changing role of glass in society and science. Pilkington has been in the forefront of new glass technologies in architecture and transportation for generations and will be included in the Museum’s Industrious and Innovative section. Pilkington’s automotive and architectural glass will be featured in this onetime-only experience to educate attendees on the science behind glass, and the industries that use it.
In addition, the exhibit will also feature glass pieces from premier artisans, studios and schools around the world—including Chihuly, Tiffany, Botti and Corning. A journey through this exhibition will take you to a ‘hot shop’ where you can watch master glassmakers take molten glass and turn it into beautiful bowls, vases and more. There will also be glass restoration by the Botti Studios as well as eye opening glass-blowing demonstrations.
The Flat Glass business of the NSG Group, operating under the Pilkington brand, is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of glass and glazing products for the building and automotive markets, with manufacturing operations in 27 countries on four continents and sales in 130 countries.
Overall, the NSG Group reported sales of $5.7 billion in the fiscal year 2007 and has ownership or interests in 51 float glass manufacturing lines worldwide (with an output of 6.4 million tons annually). Apart from automotive and architectural glass, the Group’s Specialty Glass business supplies a range of specialist products, including LCDs, optical components, micro lenses, and glass fibers.