Demand for thin flat glass for use in calculators and liquid crystal displays began to grow from the mid-1970s. At that time, it was possible to produce glass with a thickness of 1.2-1.4 mm for use in photographic plates using a Colburn machine, but anything thinner had to be imported. However, in 1977, the company began development of ultra-thin glass, and in March 1978 began producing glass with a thickness of 0.7mm using a Colburn Machine at its Yokkaichi plant. Then, in October 1981, it developed a product with a thickness of just 0.3mm, which it began marketing as UFF™ (Ultra Fine Flat Glass). UFF™ was later produced using the float method.