Production begins at the Guardian RAK float glass facility
The first ribbon of float glass was produced at the Guardian RAK facility in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, Sept. 25, according to a same-day release from Guardian Industries of Auburn Hills, Mich. The facility is a joint venture among Guardian, National Company for Glass Industries and Al Zamil Group, both of Saudi Arabia.

The plant will produce 700 tons of float glass per day for automotive and construction applications. The facility also will have a high-performance coating capabilities, according to the release … read more

Nippon Sheet Glass prepares for price fixing fines
Japanese glassmaker Nippon Sheet Glass has set aside almost $500 million in provisions for potential fines from the European Commission, according to a Sept. 30 article from the Sunday Telegraph in London… read more

Zamil Glass expands automation, creates new partnerships
Officials from Zamil Glass, business unit of Zamil Industrial, Saudi Arabia, announced the company is creating an automatic robotic line; agreed to purchase a UGC-extra tempering line from Finland’s Uniglass; and purchased an insulating glass line with robotic sealant system from Lisec of Austria, according to a Sept. 30 ameinfo.com article.

Zamil Glass also entered an exclusive representation partnership with Southwall Technologies, Palo Alto, Calif., and signed a strategic partnership agreement with Cabot Corp., Boston, producer of Nanogel, according to the article … read more

Vitro stocks slip as U.S. growth slows
Share prices fell 1.9 percent yesterday for Mexican glassmaker Vitro S.A. de C.V. due to slowing U.S. growth and accelerating inflation in Mexico, according to a Sept. 25 Bloomberg report. More than half of Vitro’s flat glass sales come from the United States, according to the article … read more

Schott opens first Russian manufacturing plant
Germany’s Schott AG, together with joint venture partner AGC Flat Glass Europe of Brussels, opened its first plant in Russia, according to an Oct. 1 Chemie.DE Information Service GmbH article.
Schott Flat Glass Russia, located in Bor, processes flat glass for oven and refrigerator manufacturers in Russia and the Baltic States, according to the article … read more

Asahi Glass subsidiary AGC Chemicals closes plant
Officials from AGC Chemicals Americas of Bayonne, N.J., wholly owned subsidiary of the Asahi Glass Group, announced Sept. 28 that the Bayonne manufacturing facility will close effective Dec. 31. Management cited continuing poor market conditions, according to a same day manufacturing.net article. 
The closure will impact 157 employees, according to the article … read more

Crystal Clear Window Works opens New York franchise 
Officials from Crystal Clear Window Works USA of Nashville announced the company launched its first franchise in New York, located in Rochester, according to a Sept. 27 release. The location will serve upper New York and is owned by Marc DiFrancesco and Brian Otto.

The franchise will serve the environmentally efficient and sustainability goals of Rochester and Monroe County, DiFrancesco said in the release.

Edge Seal Technologies changes name
Officials from Edge Seal Technologies announced a new name for the company, Integral Inc., effective Sept. 20, according to a Sept. 24 company announcement. Officials say the name change reflects the evolution of the company since it began in 1988 … read more 

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