One of Russia“s largest automotive and architectural glass manufacturers, Bor Glass Factory (Nizhny Novgorod), plans to invest US$ 30 million in 2000 to boost production of polished glass and automot…
One of Russia“s largest automotive and architectural glass manufacturers, Bor Glass Factory (Nizhny Novgorod), plans to invest US$ 30 million in 2000 to boost production of polished glass and automotive triplex glass, according to general director, Valery Tarbeyev. By the end of this year, the company is expected to announce how much of this sum it will contribute from its own profits, and how much will be provided by strategic investor Belgian glassworks Glaverbel SA. According to a recent report, the investment will be divided more or less evenly between the two projects, which are to be completed by 2000. The aim will be to increase production capacity, improve quality and increase production assortment, the report said, while most of the funds will be used to buy foreign production equipment. Reconstruction of one of two polished glass production lines is expected to start in May 2000 and be completed by November, while equipment installation may begin in March, so that new production reaches the market before the seasonal decline in demand for glass, Mr. Tarbeyev said. The line will not be in operation during reconstruction work and the remaining line and reserves will have to cover polished glass sales. Triplex production modernization will involve the installation of a full technological cycle of modern equipment, including a windscreen production line. After the reconstruction work, the Bor Glass expects to be able to provide various types of high-quality glass for all perspective automobiles in Russia for the next eight to ten years. The company“s board of directors earlier decided to concentrate investment on the development of automotive glass production.