Page 18 - Glass-Technology International no. 2/2017

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AGC AUTOMOTIVE INDUVER MOROCCO
FOUNDATION STONE LAID IN KENITRA

The foundation stone for the plant being built for AGC The new plant is ideally situated to meet
Automotive Induver Morocco was laid on 15 March. the demand for automotive glass in
Present was the Moroccan minister of Industry and Com- North Africa and the South of Europe.
merce, Mr. Moulay Hafid Elalamy, together with many It will also benefit from a free trade zone set up to attract
other personalities from the worlds of politics, industry and companies operating in the automotive industry and so
the media. to develop a major industrial concentration in this sector.
The project for the new plant being built at Kenitra in the “Once the AGC culture of automotive excellence has been
northern coastal region of the country is the result of a properly established here, our ambition is to see this plant
joint venture between AGC Automotive Europe and the managed 100% by a local team, in line with our policy in
Moroccan glass producer Induver. This initiative marks this area,” declared Jean-Marc Meunier, General Manager
the AGC Group’s first operations in Africa. AGC Automo- of AGC Automotive Europe. Hakim Abdelmoumen, General
tive Induver Morocco will produce toughened glass for Manager of Induver, for his part welcomed the prospect of
backlites and sidelites together with laminated glass for producing the complete carset (windshields, backlites and
windscreens. The plant will have sufficient capacity to sidelites) in large series for the first time in Morocco. “This
supply around 1,100,000 carsets per year and should be wider offer will further raise the local content of vehicles
operational in 2019, employing around 600 people. built in Morocco and boost the added value created locally.”

VITRO PGW, said the transaction represents
the beginning of an exciting new era
ACQUISITION OF PGW’S for PGW associates and stakeholders.
“Vitro has a sterling reputation
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT throughout the industry as a highly
competent and capable glass manu-
AUTOMOTIVE GLASS BUSINESS facturer, based on more than a
century of glass-making experience
Vitro, S.A.B. de C.V., a leading business completed last October, across the automotive, architectural
North American glass producer expands Vitro’s float glass manufac- and glass container industries. By
headquartered in Monterrey, Mexico turing and fabrication facilities. The harnessing the strength of a newly
acquired Pittsburgh Glass Works’ transaction solidifies the company’s expanded workforce and their techni-
(PGW) automotive original equip- position as the leading glass manufac- cal capabilities, Vitro is committed to
ment manufacturer (OEM) glass turer in North America. creating a next-generation auto glass
business from LKQ Corporation. Adrian Sada Cueva, Chief Executive company focused on innovation and
The acquisition completes the agree- Officer of Vitro, said the addition of world-class customer service.”
ment announced last December for PGW’s original equipment business The combined automotive glass
USD 310 million, free of cash and will enable the company to serve business will unite its research and
debt. The final acquisition price is a greater number of customers in development capabilities with those
subject to potential post-closing pur- the automotive glass business and of Vitro Architectural Glass, PPG’s
chase price adjustments, which are increase its global coverage. former flat glass business unit. The
typical for these types of transactions. “The experience and state-of-the- combined staff of engineers and
Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PGW art technology PGW brings to our scientists will work primarily at the
operates seven manufacturing plants, business will enhance our technical, Vitro Glass Technology Center in
two satellite facilities and two float research and development capabili- Harmar Township, Pennsylvania, near
glass furnaces in the US. It also has ties,” he explained. “It will further Pittsburgh.
one manufacturing plant in Poland and strengthen our company and create a Stas added, “The strategic acquisition
owns an equity participation in two business staffed by talented employ- is very complementary and will enable
joint ventures in Mexico and China. ees and strategically positioned for us to more effectively serve global
The acquisition, combined with the growth.” automotive customers with enhanced
purchase of PPG’s former flat glass Joe Stas, Chief Executive Officer of world-class products and services.”

16 Glass-Technology International 2/2017