Pittsburgh Glass Works to close Ontario plant

Pittsburgh Glass Works LLC will close its glass fabrication facility in Ontario, Canada, in the first quarter of 2010, the company announced.

In a prepared statement, Pittsburgh Glass Works President and CEO Jim Wiggins blamed the closure on the continued decline and restructuring of the North American automotive industry.

“We are responding to fundamental change in the global automotive OEM (original equipment manufacturer) business that requires suppliers to adjust production and capacity downward to match the significant demand reductions coming from our customers," Wiggins said. "We are convinced that the steps we are taking are necessary to ensure the long-term viability of our business and to prepare the company for the challenges immediately ahead.”

It was not immediately clear how many jobs would be affected by this latest plant closure.

Downtown Pittsburgh-based Pittsburgh Glass Works, which is the former auto glass unit of PPG Industries Inc. (NYSE:PPG) announced in January it would shutter its plant in Evart, Mich., eliminating 120 jobs. In December, PGW announced it was closing two plants in Canada and one in Delaware, resulting in 150 layoffs.

PGW supplies windshields, rear and side windows, and sunroofs to auto and truck manufacturers. PPG sold its majority stake in the business to New York-based Kohlberg & Co. LLC in October for an undisclosed amount. PGW employs 4,100 in North America and Europe.