Page 34 - Glass-Technology International no. 2/2017

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“The increase in glass demand is “The Oroshaza plant already has
driven by the general trend across a coated glass production line and
Europe to increase natural light in so the opening of a laminated glass
residential and commercial build- line will also enable us to offer an
ings, as well as the conversion of optimal product mix to our custom-
GUARDIAN GLASS more and more residential windows ers, for residential and commercial
from double to triple glazing,” adds segments, including low emissivity,
ENGINEERING DESIGN SPEND Guus Boekhoudt, Vice President of solar control and other specialty
FOR ADDITIONAL FLOAT Guardian Glass in Europe. “With laminated coated glass products
GLASS FACILITY Poland being commonly recognized such as anti-reflective Guardian
IN POLAND APPROVED
as the hub of European residential Clarity™,” said Guus Boekhoudt,
Guardian Glass is spending USD window manufacture, it would be a Vice President Guardian Glass
1.5 million for detailed engineering logical option for a new float glass Europe, and Managing Director
designs and site reviews for a poten- facility.” Guardian Europe.
tial second float glass facility in Po- In addition to the Czestochowa The new line is also a logical con-
land. This reflects company’s confi- plant, Guardian Glass also main- tinuation of a change initiated at the
dence in the region and increasing tains facilities in Oroshaza, Hunga- plant by Guardian Glass in 2016,
demand for its glass products ry; Thalheim, Germany; and Ryazan which saw a switch from standard
Guardian Glass currently operates and Rostov, Russia, among its 10 float glass production to Guardian’s
a float glass plant in Czestochowa, European locations. higher light transmission alterna-
®
Poland and is considering adding LAMINATED GLASS tive, Guardian ExtraClear , to meet
capacity with a second plant to meet PRODUCTION LINE the increased need for more natural
its customers’ growing demand for IN OROSHAZA, HUNGARY daylight in buildings. Laminated
coated and fabricated glass products glass production is expected to
in both the commercial and residen- To support the increasing demand begin in Q1, 2018.
tial sectors. This initial spend on the for laminated glass in Europe, As a result of these changes and
engineering design work is intended Guardian Glass is adding a new in response to continuing market
to accelerate the completion of a laminated glass production line at trends and further advances in mir-
new plant that could become com- its Oroshaza, Hungary plant. ror technology, Guardian Glass has
mercially available during the first The new line will produce both decided to discontinue production
quarter of 2019. The exact location standard and coated laminated of mirror glass at Oroshaza. The
is still under consideration. glass, as well as specialty products mirror line ceased production at
A new facility would be expected to such as acoustic, coloured and thick the end of March 2017. However,
produce 1000 metric tons of float laminated glass. Guardian Glass will keep serv-
glass per day and include a tech- The rising demand for laminated ing customers in Europe with its
nologically advanced magnetron glass is being driven by three long- UltraMirror™ lead- and copper-free
sputter coating machine to produce term trends: mirror glass produced at its Dudel-
high-performance, energy-efficient Country-level regulations in Europe ange plant in Luxembourg.
glass for customers in Poland and require the use of safety glass in an
neighbouring countries. increasing number of fenestration
Guardian Glass President and CEO and interior applications, for which PUT YOUR COMPANY
Kevin Baird says that a potential laminated glass is the most effective ON THE WEB!
investment in a second float glass solution.
facility in Poland is further demon- The desire for building to have more Ask for the
stration of Guardian’s confidence natural light is driving the trend
in both the region and the future of towards larger, energy-efficient
the glass industry: “The potential windows, which requires the use of
for a second plant in Poland would laminated glass for higher mechani-
fit with our global strategy and our cal resistance and security. Internet services
marketing considerations. We are A general rise in demand for noise
confident we will find new oppor- reduction for both residential and CONTACT US AT:
tunities and expanded channels for commercial buildings has increased E-mail: publications@glassonline.com
www.glassonline.com
our glass products in Europe.” the use of acoustic laminated glass.

32 Glass-Technology International 2/2017