Pilkington plc has won an important award under the prestigious Engineering Heritage Hallmark Scheme (EHHS) for the invention of the Float Glass process. The award, presented by the IMechE, which has Her Majesty the Queen as its patron, describes Float as "the major glass innovation of the 20th century" which has had enormous social impact. "Almost all the glass that the public sees or looks through today is float glass, says the impressive citation. The IMechE launched the EHHS in 1984 to recognise landmark developments in mechanical engineering and to raise the profile of the profession. Only 36 awards have been made so far and previous winners include the Harrier jump jet, the Rolls Royce RB 211 engine, the Thames Barrier and the Jubilee Extension Line. The Float Process was invented by Pilkington in 1952 and announced to the world in 1959 after development.
