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Guardian Glass Approves Engineering Design Spend for Additional Float Glass Facility in Poland

This reflects company’s confidence in the region and increasing demand for its glass products

Guardian Glass is spending $1.5 million for detailed engineering designs and site reviews for a potential second float glass facility in Poland. Guardian Glass currently operates a float glass plant in Czestochowa, Poland and is considering adding capacity with a second plant to meet its customers’ growing demand for coated and fabricated glass products in both the commercial and residential sectors. This initial spending on the engineering design work is intended to accelerate the completion of a new plant that could become commercially available during the first quarter of 2019. Additionally, the location is still under consideration.

A new facility would be expected to produce 1000 metric tons of float glass per day and include a technologically advanced magnetron sputter coating machine to produce high-performance, energy-efficient glass for customers in Poland and neighboring countries.

Guardian Glass President and CEO Kevin Baird says that a potential investment in a second float glass facility in Poland is further demonstration of Guardian’s confidence in both the region and the future of the glass industry: “The potential for a second plant in Poland would fit with our global strategy and our marketing considerations. We are confident we will find new opportunities and expanded channels for our glass products in Europe.”

“The increase in glass demand is driven by the general trend across Europe to increase natural light in residential and commercial buildings, as well as the conversion of more and more residential windows from double to triple glazing,” adds Guus Boekhoudt, Vice President of Guardian Glass in Europe. “With Poland being commonly recognized as the hub of European residential window manufacture, it would be a logical option for a new float glass facility.”

In addition to the Czestochowa plant, Guardian Glass also maintains facilities in Oroshaza, Hungary; Thalheim, Germany; and Ryazan and Rostov, Russia, among its 10 European locations.

Guardian Glass is a major business unit of Guardian Industries Corp. For more, visit guardianglass.com.


Hans Thoma, general manager from the Thoma-group, is eager to acquire a substantial market share in Brazil, a growing country with tremendous potential for solar energy output. Having complied with local official procedures (Inmetro, TÜV, Fraunhofer CSP) and cleared the way for future business collaboration, he expresses his hope that the solar industry will henceforth expand quickly.

”Being able to introduce Brazil to the infinite opportunities of a solar industry is a privilege for J.v.G. Thoma GmbH, and one that we are extremely grateful for. At the same time, this placed the ball squarely in our court, and the pressure to get the ball rolling quickly was high. Now that the lengthy initial formalities are out of the way, we can focus on making this project a success.“

The first DESERT solar module production in BRAZIL! Lets go ....
J.v.G. Thoma GmbH is delivering a DESERT turnkey production line to Brazil, the first of its kind and hopefully the first in many breakthroughs to leave the factory floor on their way to the largest country in South America. With a capacity of 30 MW, this is a small semi-automatic DESERT production line, but still a flagship in terms of DESERT solar module production and electricity generation in the country, now fully functional and ready to start with operation.

The machinery consists of DESERT production machines for high-efficiency DESERT solar modules built specifically for extreme hot climate, such as can be seen in deserts or in tropical areas. Made solely in Germany and built using the latest in DESERT and TROPIC module production, the systems inlcudes all cutting-edge technology.

Certified DESERT solar modules, DESERT containers, DESERT power plants and DESERT manufacturing machinery built using pioneering DESERT and TROPICS technology are now fully set up, and ready to perform. But powering on the machinery has been a long time coming. Up until recently, this advanced piece of equipment had been waiting for clearance at a port in Brazil. Now that the formalities have been dealt with, both J.v.G. Thoma and its customer in Brazil can get production under way.

J.v.G. Thoma GmbH is a company whose vision has always been to harness the infinite power of the sun and convert it into an inexhaustible supply of energy. But a vision such as this requires global reach, and this project has opened new doors. Brazil is not only a gateway to South American cooperation, but also the launchpad to international reach and expansion.

Following the delivery of this initial order, J.v.G. Thoma GmbH will be looking forward to an ongoing collaboration with the Brazilian company. From setup and initial training to setting the scene for a ramp up, J.v.G. Thoma will be there to provide expertise and assistance. Moreover, the company will be jointly responsible, along with the client, for the successful integration of the DESERT solar module factory.

In the future, bigger DESERT power plants will be set up on Brazilian soil, and together with existing turnkey production systems, they intend to take up a large share of the products and assets this sector will possess locally. J.v.G. Thoma plans to build up a local network of sales agents that can extend a premium offering to neighbouring countries in South America. Eventually, the company hopes to be able to expand its customer base to clients in North America.

Hans Thoma, general manager from the Thoma-group, is eager to acquire a substantial market share in Brazil, a growing country with tremendous potential for solar energy output. Having complied with local official procedures (Inmetro, TÜV, Fraunhofer CSP) and cleared the way for future business collaboration, he expresses his hope that the solar industry will henceforth expand quickly.

”Being able to introduce Brazil to the infinite opportunities of a solar industry is a privilege for J.v.G. Thoma GmbH, and one that we are extremely grateful for. At the same time, this placed the ball squarely in our court, and the pressure to get the ball rolling quickly was high. Now that the lengthy initial formalities are out of the way, we can focus on making this project a success.“

The first DESERT solar module production in BRAZIL! Let
Source: Guardian Industries Corporation