March 7 (Bloomberg) -- Corning Inc., the biggest maker of glass for flat-panel displays, may sell or close its unprofitable Steuben Glass luxury crystal unit.

Steuben, founded in 1903, has been losing money for ``a few years,'' spokeswoman Kelli Hopp-Michlosky said today in an e- mailed message. If Corning can't find a buyer, it will consider closing the business, which has about $25 million in annual revenue and employs 150 people, she said.

A sale would allow Corning to focus on its other businesses. Almost half of sales come from liquid-crystal-display glass, where orders have surged as manufacturers switch to producing high-definition TV sets. Last month, Corning forecast an increase of 25 percent to 30 percent in total LCD glass demand in 2008.

Shares of the Corning, New York-based company fell 33 cents to $22.83 at 4 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The stock has declined 4.8 percent this year.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ville Heiskanen in New York at vheiskanen@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: March 7, 2008 16:08 EST