The week's business headlines

Sales up for Saint-Gobain in first quarter
Officials from French glassmaker Saint-Gobain announced April 26 that the company saw a 7.2 percent increase in sales for the first quarter, according to a same-day company release … read more

Thailand protests Philippine government’s glass tariffs
Thailand filed an official protest with the World Trade Organization against the Philippine government’s decision to extend to 2009 the punitive tariff on glass pane imports, according to an April 30 article from Manila’s The Daily Tribune.

Philippine’s Department of Trade and Industry extended the tariff, acting on the petition of Asahi Glass Philippines Inc., according to the article … read more

InterEdge’s fire rated glazing to be produced at AFG plant
Officials from InterEdge Technologies of Sausalito, Calif., announced Underwriters Laboratories certification of the AFG Industries’ Alvarado, Texas, facility to produce and distribute non-wired PyroEdge 20 and Scott Pyran ceramic glazing, according to an April 25 company release … read more

Southeastern Aluminum opens Phoenix plant
Officials from Southeastern Aluminum Inc. of Jacksonville, Fla., announced the opening of the company’s Phoenix distribution and fabrication facility April 16, according to a company release.

The facility serves the western and southwestern regions of the U.S., according to the release … read more

New tax credit could boost window-film industry
The window-film industry is poised to improve its image in energy efficiency, thanks to a new tax credit, according to an April 27 nashuatelegraph.com article.

Applying window film on existing panes qualifies consumers for a credit of up to 10 percent of the cost to a maximum of $500; the tax break expires in 2008, according to the article … read more