Saint-Gobain increases capacity with new line of production
Gazeta Mercantil - 06/23/2008
Sekurit, the Brazilian division of car glasses, which belongs to French group Saint-Gobain, opens today the new line of production in the plant of Mauá, in the São Paulo Metropolitan area. This is the first stage of the program of increase of capacity defined by the company in Brazil. "In October we'll open another assembly line of glass kits for cars that will allow meeting the demand of the makers until 2011", said managing officer of the company in Brazil Manuel Corrêa to Gazeta Mercantil. In order to handle such high production, the company foresees it will hire 120 people this year, increasing the number of employees in Brazil to more that one thousand. The glass sector is one of the 9 segments that make part of the production chain of cars that is working in the limit, using 95% of its capacity, according to a recent survey made by the Brazilian Association of Automotive Components Manufacturers (Sindipeças). Saint-Gobain Sekurit decided to make the investments scheduled for 2009 in advance, for it believes in the strong growth of the car industry. The company officer did not want to disclose the value of the investment. In order to increase the production of windshields and windows, Saint-Gobain Sekurit brought the most modern equipment for production of glass of the European market. The Saint-Gobain Group has been established in Brazil for 70 years and has a long lasting history of success in the Country, according to Corrêa. On the average, the company invests US$ 10 million a year in its Brazilian plant. According to sources from the sector, the car glass industry is able to supply more than 4.5 million sets of car glasses a year, well above the installed capacity of the makers. Saint-Gobain Sekurit alone is able to produce more than 2 million car glasses per year. The car market is shared by Saint-Gobain Sekurit and its main rival, British manufacturer Pilkington, with 50% of market share for each company with direct supply to the makers.