Glaverbel has underlined its position as leader in the Russian flat glass market by opening a new manufacturing complex at Klin, 105 km to the North-West of Moscow

The new plant (pictured) produces 180,000 tonnes of float glass per year and includes two downstream processing units, one for large-scale super-insulating coated glass (for the building industry), and another for MNGE (Mirox New Generation Ecological) mirrors.

Inaugurated on Friday 16th September in the presence of more than 500 people, including representatives of the Russian authorities and the international press, Glaverbel Klin is the first plant ever built in Russia on a greenfield site by a western glassmaker.

The project represents an investment of over e 160 million and is intended to meet the increasing demand for glass generated by the sustained growth of the building and car industries in Russia.

The location of Klin offers important logistical advantages, as it is near Moscow and St. Petersburg, two large centres of glass consumption.

Glaverbel CEO Arthur Ulens commented: ‘Together with the two Bor Glassworks float plants in Nizhny Novgorod and the nationwide processing and distribution network managed by our sales agency Glaverbel Vostok, Glaverbel Klin will strengthen our leadership and boost our image as a pioneer in Russia’.

Construction of Glaverbel Klin began in September 2002 and took nearly two years to complete. In the meantime, a sustained effort was put into recruiting and training its 280 members of personnel.

Source

Glass Age