Guardian Glass to Construct Second Float and Coated Glass Plant in Poland

Guardian Industries has approved the investment for an additional float and coated glass manufacturing plant in Czestochowa, Poland, to meet the growing demand for float, coated and fabricated glass products across Europe.

The new facility location is planned to be adjacent to the company’s existing plant, with preparation and execution of the project starting immediately. The facility is expected to begin operations in the third quarter of 2019, and will create more than 150 new jobs. It will pull 1,000 metric tons of glass per day and will include a technologically advanced glass coater.

Guardian Glass President and CEO Kevin Baird says: “The new facility will be the biggest green field capital investment in Guardian Glass’ history and will further position us as a leading producer of high performance, safety and energy-efficient glass products for European residential and commercial buildings.” He adds: “Guardian is excited about the growth we’ve seen in Poland -- and confident that the Czestochowa location is well positioned to meet our customer’s needs. We’ve enjoyed strong support from the city of Czestochowa, the Katowice Special Economic Zone and the Polish government.”

Further evidence of the company’s commitment to Poland, Guardian Glass’ existing float line in Czestochowa will go through a repair project at the start of 2018 that will increase its production capacity.

“We look forward to continued growth in Poland and neighboring countries. The colocation of the two plants will create a competitive and efficient structure to deliver a wide range of glass products and will contribute to generate long-term value for our customers in the region,” says Guus Boekhoudt, Vice President of Guardian Glass in Europe.

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

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 Corp.