Carlex to Dedicate Nashville Glass Plant, Lebanon Auto Glass Distribution Center

Carlex officials will celebrate the acquisition of the Nashville glass plant and Lebanon auto glass distribution operation with a dedication ceremony at the Nashville plant. Speeches are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., and the dedication will follow.

Shuichi Sarasawa, president and chief executive officer of Tokyo-based Central Glass Co. Ltd., parent company of Carlex, will participate in the event and speak about the significance of this acquisition to Central Glass and the Nashville community.

Bill Hagerty, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development; Gary Casteel, Region 8 director for the United Auto Workers union, and Dennis Rowland, senior purchasing manager, global body and exterior, Ford Motor Co., are expected to attend and make brief comments

A tour of the Carlex Nashville glass plant will highlight the facility’s unique position as the only North American facility where, under one roof, starting with sand and other materials, flat glass is manufactured, then fabricated into automotive glass windshields. Vehicles will be on display that show glass parts produced by Carlex at Nashville and Vonore, where tempered door glass, back windows and sunroofs are made

Photography will be permitted inside the plant in certain areas only. Comfortable walking shoes are advised. No high heels or open-toed shoes should be worn.

Carlex purchased the Nashville float glass manufacturing and automotive windshield fabricating plant and Lebanon automotive replacement glass distribution business on March 31 from Zeledyne. With the acquisition, Carlex became the exclusive distributor of Carlite® brand automotive replacement glass in the United States.

Carlex celebrates 20 years of operation at its Vonore automotive glass fabricating plant on Saturday, June 4.