The week's business headlines

Vitro reports highest earnings ever
Mexico’s Vitro S.A. de C.V. year-over-year consolidated sales increased 7.9 percent and EBITDA rose 10.6 percent, according to third-quarter year-over-year 2006 unaudited results announced in an Oct. 25 company release. This was the company’s all-time highest comparable consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, and the lowest comparable total gross debt level for the company, said Alvaro Rodriguez, chief financial officer, in the release… read more

Solutia announces new line, new business name
Officials from St. Louis-based Solutia Inc. announced at the Glasstec trade fair that the company will add a manufacturing line to its plant in Ghent, Belgium. Glasstec took place Oct. 24-28 at the Dusseldorf fair grounds in Germany … read more

Laser cutting gains traction at Glasstec
Laser cutting takes more time than cutting wheels and is pricier than those traditional technologies. However, laser-cutting technology is improving rapidly, and will take over the market in the near future, said Wolfgang Freidl, engineer for Germany’s Grenzebach Group, during a presentation at the Glasstec trade fair Oct. 24-28 in Dusseldorf, Germany … read more

Guardian heads for legal battle in India
Guardian Industries Corp. of Auburn Hills, Mich., and the Modis, a business conglomerate in India, are headed for a legal battle over Guardian’s move to set up a wholly-owned subsidiary in addition to its joint venture Gujarat Guardian with Modi Rubber and Gujarat government's state-owned units, according to an Oct. 25 India Business article.

India’s Foreign Investment Promotion Board cleared the proposal last week and is also expected to be involved in the dispute… read more 

DuPont India's initiative includes laminated glass
DuPont India, a wholly owned subsidiary of DuPont, Wilmington, Del., launched DuPont Building Innovations that offers building services, products and innovations for the construction industry, according to an Oct. 26 Hindustan Times article.

Under the initiative, the company launched products targeted at commercial and residential interiors including glass laminating systems, baths, and kitchens with technology aimed at boosting safety, reducing noise levels and saving energy, according to the article … read more