AGC Brazil Plant Starts Production

AGC Glass Brazil Inc.started production of architectural glass at its new industrial glass complex in Guaratinguetá, S?o Paulo State, according to an Oct. 18 company release. Construction began on the plant in November 2011, with an investment of about $400 million. The facility is now ready for mass production of architectural glass, mirrors and automotive glass, according to the release.

AGC officials expect the facility will produce 220,000 tons of float glass per year, process automotive glass for 500,000 vehicles and manufacture quality mirrors for the Brazilian market. It will create 500 jobs by 2016, according to the release.

“I am delighted to announce that the AGC Group’s technology, quality and services, are now being offered in the Brazilian market” said Davide Cappellino, President of AGC Glass Brazil at the start of production. “Our new glass plant is the greenest manufacturing facility in South America. State-of-the-art green technologies include waste gas treatment, energy-saving and water resource-saving features. In addition to reducing environmental load during the production process, the glass products we are planning to offer also aim at enhancing environmental conservation, such as the heat-reflecting glass for energy-efficient air-conditioning use and copper/lead-free mirror to name a few.”

Kay Yonamoto, AGC’s Executive Vice President and Brazil Global Project Team Leader commented “Under the Group’s management policy Grow Beyond, the AGC Group pursues its business expansion in fast-growing markets as one of the crucial growth strategies. We are confident that our first industrial investment in South America will lead to further development. The start of the production of both architectural and automotive glass at the same moment was only possible thanks to the support and cooperation of many stakeholders in Brazil and from our plants abroad. The AGC Group will continue to support the development of the local community and grow together with Brazil”.

Read the full release