In August 1964, a team of engineers was dispatched to Pilkington to begin the much-awaited implementation of float glass technology. Selected for the site of float production, retrofitting construction of No.3 furnace in NSG Maizuru Plant began in May 1965 with a number of engineers from Pilkington and NSG working together to set up the equipment and practice operation.
For earthquake resistance, some design changes had to be made and because the imported bricks were non-standard in size, a plane had to be chartered to keep the construction on schedule.
On the snowy day of November 15, 1965, President Watanabe opened the dispensing port for molten glass and 40 minutes later, Asia’s first float sheet glass appeared. In October 2009, this glass was designated a historical artifact by the National Museum of Nature and Science.