The US glass firm PPG Industries has announced its entry into a joint venture in China for the production of tempered safety glass and insulating glass units, and for the retailing of flat glass.
The…
The US glass firm PPG Industries has announced its entry into a joint venture in China for the production of tempered safety glass and insulating glass units, and for the retailing of flat glass. The operation, Beijing Pennvasia Glass Co. Ltd., is 60% owned by Pennvasia Ltd., which is itself a joint venture between PPG and Japan“s Asahi Glass. Zhong Bei Glass Co., the commercial unit of the Chinese State Administration of Building Materials“ glass department, owns the other 40%. The US$ 10 million facility will be built in Tongxian County, 20 kilometres from Beijing. According to the company, start-up for the plant is expected by mid-1997, with an initial workforce of 60. PPG“s flat glass general manager, Richard B. Leggett, stated that value-added PPG and Asahi Glass products such as low-emissivity coated glasses and tinted glasses will also be imported. Early this year, Beijing Pennvasia expects to open two retail glass shops, one in Beijing and one in Tianjin. The shops, says Mr. Leggett, “will be modelled after a successful Shenzen store operated by Guandong Float Glass Co.” Guandong Float Glass is a PPG flat glass operation in Shekou. The majority of flat glass for Beijing Pennvasia will be supplied by Guandong Float Glass and another PPG operation in China, Dalian Float Glass.