On June 2, 2015, at the exhibition held by the Society for Information Display (SID) in San Jose, California, AGC of Japan introduced a soda lime glass substrate with only 0.23mm in thickness. The thickness of this substrate is equivalent to only three sheets of printing paper. It will bring the touch panel industry to the next technology leap and set off a new innovation wave for tablet PCs, smart phones and other consumer electronics.

AGC unveiled the first 0.28mm soda lime glass substrate in 2011. However, the 0.23mm launched in April, under the premise of the same quality and technical characteristics, reduces further the thickness of the product by 18%, making it thinner and lighter. The glass substrate is developed to better adapt to the recent trend for thinner and lighter touch screen panels used on smart phones and tablet PCs. In addition to the direct application in various types of touch sensors, it can also be used as the screen protector for smart phones, tablet PCs and other consumer electronics.

Depending on the different compositions, the ultrathin sheet glass for electronic business can be divided into three categories: the soda lime glass, the high-alkali alumino-silicate glass, and the alkali-free glass for TFT-LCDs; At present, AGC is the only manufacturer in the world who offers all three. Among the products AGC makes, the alkali-free glass for TFT-LCD has only a thickness of 0.05mm, rendering the same world class quality and technology as the 0.23mm soda lime glass substrate announced this time.