Asahi Glass Co. is determined to significantly increase its auto-glass capacity overseas by 2000. The decision is intended to cope with steady sales growth in the US and the auto-industry-development …
Asahi Glass Co. is determined to significantly increase its auto-glass capacity overseas by 2000. The decision is intended to cope with steady sales growth in the US and the auto-industry-development policies being shaped in most Asian countries including China, developments which contrast strongly with the prolonged recession in Japan. In the coming five years, Japan“s top glass maker intends to double its auto-glass sales in world markets including Japan so that it can raise its world-market share from the present 20% to 25%. It has already begun building a new plant in Thailand where sales growth has been remarkable. Asahi Glass“ combined capacity for auto glass outside of Japan stood at 4 million units in 1994, and its domestic capacity, 5.7 million units, totalling 9.7 million units and commanding a 20% share of the world market. It is now operating 10 subsidiaries and JVs throughout the world producing auto glass; they have been respectively deploying operations in such a way as to keep up with the progress of the local auto industry. From now on, the Japanese giant glass maker plans to increase its overseas capacities by 2000 as follows: the US, from 2 to 2.8 million units, up 40%; Indonesia, from 500,000 to 700,000 units; India, from 400,000 to 700,000 units; Taiwan, from 250,000 to 350,000 units; the Philippines, from 150,000 to 300,000 units; China, from 150,000 to 400,000 units; Thailand, from 500,000 to 750,000 units; and the Czech Republic and Slovakia, from 700,000 to 1 million units, giving a total of 8.35 million units overseas, up 40% over the current level. Only its Japanese capacity now standing at 5.7 million units will be decreased, to 5.5 million units by 2000, bringing its combined capacity to 13.5 million units, accounting for a 25% share of the world market. If the planned targets are met, the ratio of the domestic capacity to the overseas one will be 4:6, reversing the ratio in favour of the latter. In order to strengthen its chlor-alkali operations in Asia, Asahi Glass Co. is also planning to produce, in India, caustic soda by electrolysis. It plans to start a feasibility study on the project within the year with the intention of carrying it out by 1999 via a joint venture with a local business concern. Japan“s top glass maker has been implementing electrolysis operations in Indonesia and Thailand. It is also conducting a feasability study on a PVC-through-production project to start electrolysis operations in Shanghai, China. Having established global footholds for sheet-glass, cathode-ray-tube and autoglass operations, Asahi Glass has somewhat lagged behind other Japanese chemical companies in globalisation of chemical operations. In recent years it has been striving to build up its footing in Asia for chlor-alkali operations. The plan for India, if it materializes, will be Asahi Glass“ fourth chlor-alkali project in Asia outside Japan. Furthermore, La Foret Engineering Co., Asahi Glass“ joint venture with Mori Building Co. has updated a device that transmits sunlight to the darkest corners of a building. The device, called the Himawari, or sunflower, uses a fibre-optic cable to convey sunlight. The Himawari“s receiving lenses continually track the sun with the help of a stepping motor, a sensor and a microprocessor. The lenses screen out most of the ultraviolet and infrared rays. The resulting light is roughly equal to that of two 100-watt glow bulbs.