AGC to Restart Idled Auto Float Line in Light of ′Favorable′ Market Conditions

AGC Glass Company North America has announced that it is planning to restart its idled G1 float glass line located at its Greenland manufacturing plant in Hawkins County, Tenn., toward the end of the year. The line has been shut down since 2008.Company officials say that “market conditions have become favorable enough to restart the line.” AGC plans to hire approximately 100 employees when the line is reactivated.“We are pleased to announce our plans to restart the G1 float line in Tennessee,” says Mark Ishiko, president and CEO of AGC Glass Company North America. “This float line will be an important boost for our company as we seek to grow our glass business in North America. G1 will manufacture float glass to serve both the architectural and automotive markets. We plan to service the growing demands of the North American automotive business, and grow our architectural business with higher quality clear and tinted float glass.”He adds, “We believe that there is an expanding market for automotive and architectural as well as new uses of glass,” says Ishiko. “AGC needs to be in the best position to take advantage of that growth. The G1 restart will allow us to be ready as markets move upward.”According to the announcement, AGC hopes to offer the new positions on the G1 line to the employees who were laid off as a result of the shutdown of the K1 furnace in Kingsport. “Northeast Tennessee is an important region for our company and hopefully this restart will help lessen the effects from the K1 shutdown,” adds Ishiko.In addition, the announcement says members of the Hawkins County Industrial Development Board and the State of Tennessee are working with AGC to secure tax and other incentives for this project.“Lynn Lawson and our Board have been working with AGC for the last two years and we are pleased AGC is proceeding with this investment at the Greenland plant,” says Larry Elkins, chairman of the Hawkins County Industrial Development Board.AGC has applied for a construction permit from the State of Tennessee and the project is subject to the state’s approval. In addition to re-opening the float line, AGC officials say they plan to install new environmental control equipment.Construction is expected to begin this summer. 02.02.2012, AGC Glass North America/glassbytes.com