Flat auto sales pushed Pittsburgh Glass Works, formerly PPG“s automotive glass and services business, to cease production at one manufacturing facility, close two assembly plants and lay off 150 sala…
Flat auto sales pushed Pittsburgh Glass Works, formerly PPG“s automotive glass and services business, to cease production at one manufacturing facility, close two assembly plants and lay off 150 salaried employees, the company said 1 December 2008. The company will shut assembly plants in Newark, Delaware, and Cambridge, Ontario, in late 2009. The company will also close down its glass fabrication plant in Oshawa, Ontario, in the 1Q. Its plant in Creighton, Pennsylvania, which employs about 180 people, is not currently affected by the restructuring moves, but the company said additional plant shutdowns were likely after a business analysis is completed in January 2009. The company has nine plants in North America, including plants in Meadville and Tipton in Pennsylvania. “This realignment will enable us to adapt to the changing demands of the industry”, said President Jim Wiggins. Pittsburgh Glass Works, which employs about 4,100 people, was recently acquired from PPG by Kohlberg & Co., Mt. Kisco, New York. The private equity firm bought a 60% interest from PPG Industries Inc., which retains a 40% stake.