29 January 1998: Japan“s Asahi Glass Co. recently announced its plan for reconstruction, in hopes of strengthening its soda ash business. Production will now be carried out solely at the Kita-Kyushu Works, even though the expansion plan to increase capacity to 450,000 t/y at the Kita-Kyushu Works has been cancelled due to the low demand for glass. Instead, automation of production and streamlining of physical distribution systems will be executed, and sales of sodium bicarbonate and magnesium hydroxide will be increased. The company expects to achieve 15% cost reduction by such comprehensive restructuring in two or three years. Asahi also said that production has already been terminated at the Chiba Works. Asahi still has, however, a production base at Solvay Soda Ash Joint Venture (SSAJV), established jointly with Solvay Mineral to produce natural soda, from which Asahi Glass receives natural soda equivalent to the stake invested in the joint venture. SSAJV plans to increase production from 2,300,000 t/y to 3,500,000 t/y. The amount received by Asahi Glass will increase from 460,000 t/y at present to 700,000 t/y. The first stage of expansion at SSAJV will be completed at the end of 1999, raising production capacity to 2,700,000 t/y. Asahi Glass estimates its own demand for the product will be one million tons per annum including requirements for self-consumption and sales worldwide at the end of this century.

29 January 1998: Benteler A.G. of Germany and the Belgian firm Fabricom S.A. have decided to exchange the respective know-how, signing an agreement which is aimed at jointly developing and marketing t…

29 January 1998: Benteler A.G. of Germany and the Belgian firm Fabricom S.A. have decided to exchange the respective know-how, signing an agreement which is aimed at jointly developing and marketing the manufacturing technology for the automotive glass industry. The companies said that the joint venture will result in better coverage of the market, as well as the possibility to offer complete processing lines. They also said that the joint developments will improve services, including reducing delivery times, eliminating interfaces between production line equipment, while also allowing the customer to work with only one main contractor. In addition to mechanical engineering, the Benteler Group has other divisions such as the manufacturing of steel and tubes, automotive technology and a trading division. It is one of the 100 largest companies in Germany, and has 33 production facilities worldwide. Fabricom S.A. is active in assembly, logistics and environmental technologies. The group employs some 18,000 people in over 300 operations in both Europe and North America, and is also the operational unit of Tractabel, a Belgian company which specialises in energy, environment and engineering, installations and communication services.