The Fuyao Glass Industry Group, the largest auto glass maker in China, is celebrating the launch of three new float glass production lines which are set to ease China“s dependence on imported float g…
The Fuyao Glass Industry Group, the largest auto glass maker in China, is celebrating the launch of three new float glass production lines which are set to ease China“s dependence on imported float glass. Fuyao has invested CNY 1.7 billion (USD 205.4 million) on building the high-tech lines. Each has a capacity of 600 tons of float glass a day. Fuyao has spent another CNY 300 million (USD 36.25 million) on deep-processing technology for the float glass produced. All three lines are running and are predicted to output 500,000 tons of float glass a year. Meanwhile, according to a CNY 2 billion (USD 241.64 million) agreement signed on 24 June 2005 between Fuyao and the Hainan provincial government, the company will build five new float glass lines in Chengmai County in South China“s Hainan Province. Construction of the first three lines will commence in about three months“ time and all five are expected to be launched in 2007, according to Cho Tak-wong, Fuyao“s chairman and CEO. As the largest project in Hainan in 2005, the lines will be able to close the country“s gap in several auto glass production technologies such as on-line coated glass production, Cho said. “Fuyao“s current achievement in float glass production marks a new beginning in China“s automobile glass manufacturing industry that has managed the world“s top technologies, which also ends the nation“s dependence on importing float glass,” said Cho. Previously, 70% of China“s high-quality float glass was imported, with the remainder sourced from domestic joint venture enterprises. Cho added that Fuyao“s co-operation with US firm PPG has resulted in a firm technological base for Fuyao“s development. Founded in 1987, Fuyao has been supplying auto glass to car makers including Audi, GM, Hyundai, Mitsubishi and Isuzu since 2003.