ONE of the world's largest float glass manufacturers has agreed to a licence with Pilkington for the Pilkington-developed 3R pollution control process, which converts nitrogen oxides emissions from glass making furnaces into harmless nitrogen and water vapour.

The terms of a licence with Guardian Industries Corp. of Michigan, USA, are confidential but they include an initial licence payment and additional payments to cover the use of the techology on licensed plants (Guardian currently has 21 float plants in operation or under construction around the world).

The Pilkington patented process can be fitted to existing glass furnaces or incorporated into the design of new plants, and it can also be applied on furnaces for containers, tableware and TV glass, as well as for float glass.

Pilkington director Glen Nightingale said: "The 3R process is expected to play a major role for the glass industry in achieving the higher environmental standards required around the world."

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