During the last quarter of the 19th century, strong competition continued to be experienced from the continental manufacturers as their production capacity expanded. This competition was made much more severe by the growing self-sufficiency of the United States market, which had been one of the most important export outlets.
One British company after another succumbed and by 1903, within 30 years of Pilkington's entry into this branch of the flat glass industry, it had become the sole British producer. Pilkington bought the Ravenhead works in 1901 and survived because of its broad product range and comparatively low manufacturing costs, resulting from numerous innovations and improvements in manufacture.