Guardian Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony For New Russian Float Plant

Russ Ebeid, president of Guardian’s Glass Group, participated in the groundbreaking ceremony of the company’s new Russian float glass plant.

Russ Ebeid, president of Guardian’s Glass Group, participated in the groundbreaking ceremony of the company’s new Russian float glass plant.

Guardian Industries Corp. held a groundbreaking ceremony in Krasny Sulin (Rostov region), Russia on May 13 with local and state government officials to kick off construction of its newest float glass manufacturing plant. Guardian says the $220-million plant will be its largest, producing 900 tons of glass per day, and will include a technologically advanced glass coater.

The Rostov region plant will produce the company’s high-performance, energy-efficient ClimaGuard® (residential) and SunGuard® (commercial) glass products for construction of homes, offices, retail, health-care and other facilities. The plant is expected to begin operations in the third quarter of 2012, and will initially create 300 new jobs.

At the event, Guardian Glass Group President Russell Ebeid thanked those in attendance for their support of Guardian and the company’s decision to build in Rostov.

“We appreciate the outstanding support we received from Rostov Governor Golubev and his administration,” said Ebeid. “It is evident that they view new investment as a priority, and the government works hard to streamline the development process to attract new projects that will create new jobs. Guardian is bullish on Russia given the excellent growth at our first plant in Ryazan and the customers we have in the country. The timing is right for the region and for Guardian.” Following the ceremony Ebeid was seen by Governor Golubev for a personal conversation in his office.

According to the company announcement, the location is a good fit for Guardian’s growth strategy to supply glass to Russia and neighboring countries. In 2008, Guardian began production at its plant in Ryazan, Russia, serving the greater Moscow region.

Located 957 kilometers (594 miles) from Moscow in the southern part of Russia along the Azov Sea, Rostov has sufficient natural resources, a large workforce and a well-developed transportation infrastructure. The area is also close to Sochi, home of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

“We have enjoyed strong support in Russia from both the government and a wide variety of customers,” said János Együd, managing director of Guardian Steklo Services, the company overseeing the existing Ryazan plant and the new project in Rostov. “We look forward to continued growth in the country as we work closely with our customers and suppliers.”

The announcement notes that Guardian was one of the first companies to invest in Eastern Europe beginning construction in Hungary in June 1989, prior the fall of the Berlin Wall, and presently operates facilities in Hungary, eastern Germany and Poland, among other European locations.