Guardian: DeWitt employees back to work, float line to undergo “extended repair”

Guardian Glass employees at the DeWitt, Iowa plant, have returned to work after a recent fire and explosion.

Employees at Guardian Glass’ DeWitt, Iowa, plant have returned to work after a recent fire and explosion at the facility. However, a float glass line at the location will undergo an “extended repair,” according to a statement from Guardian Glass vice president of the Americas Rick Zoulek.
“I’m pleased to report that everyone is safe … and personnel are returning to work,” he said. “The safety of our employees remains Guardian Glass’ No. 1 priority.”

Five employees received medical attention but were soon released without any serious ailments. The plant’s management worked out of the DeWitt Chamber of Commerce building over weekend, KWQC reported, and management returned to the administration section of the facility at the beginning of this week.

Zoulek said that the facility’s glass inventory was not damaged and that it has resumed glass shipments, “processing customer orders through normal communication channels.”

He added that the company “will resume coating and tempering operations at the plant soon” and that the float glass line “will experience an extended repair.”

“Guardian is creating the best possible plan to meet the needs of its customers, including support from other Guardian Glass US plants and our global manufacturing network,” said Zoulek. “We will continue to work with our customers to minimize any interruption of service.”

The DeWitt plant opened in 1996 and services window customers and commercial fabricators throughout the United States.