At an official ceremony on 28 August 2003 in El Marques, Mexico, Guardian Industries executives and government officials broke ground on what will be Guardians“s 24th float glass plant. The new plant…
At an official ceremony on 28 August 2003 in El Marques, Mexico, Guardian Industries executives and government officials broke ground on what will be Guardians“s 24th float glass plant. The new plant, located in the state of Queretaro, north of Mexico City, represents an investment of USD 120 million for Guardian, a leading global manufacturer of float glass and fabricated glass products for the commercial and residential construction industries, and the world“s largest producer of mirrors. The ceremony was attended by Guardian Glass Group President Russell Ebeid, Managing Director of Latin American Operations Mark LaCasse, Mexico“s Minister of the Economy Fernando Canales, Queretaro Governor Ignacio Loyola, Queretaro Secretary of Sustainable Development Leopoldo Mondragon and the Mayor of El Marques Javier Martinez. “Guardian Industries is confident in Mexico“s long term growth,” said Ebeid. “We are here to support that growth while serving an expanding customer base in Latin America. With the completion of this world-class glass manufacturing facility, we will add quality jobs and enhanced services that will generate innovation and growth in the Mexican glass industry.” “Guardian chose to locate in Queretaro to take advantage of a strong, energetic work force and supportive, cooperative state and municipal governments,” said LaCasse. “In addition, Queretaro“s central location will help us meet the needs of this emerging Mexican market.” Scheduled to begin production in the 3Q of 2004, the facility will employ approximately 300 people and produce 650 tons daily of high quality float glass for architectural and automotive applications. Indirectly, Guardian expects the plant to generate more than 1,000 additional jobs by adding to its supplier and logistics base. Guardian presence in Latin American includes float glass plants in Porto Real, Brazil, and Maturin, Venezuela, and distribution facilities in Veracruz, Mexico, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Cartagena, Colombia. The new plant in Mexico is part of Guardian“s aggressive growth strategy that has included new float glass plants in Poland and the UK, and recently launched coaters in Luxembourg and the United States.