PPG Industries is providing technical and training advisory services for the US$ 10 million expansion at the Cristal Laminado o Templado (CITSA) automotive glass plant in Tepeji del Rio, Mexico.
The …
PPG Industries is providing technical and training advisory services for the US$ 10 million expansion at the Cristal Laminado o Templado (CITSA) automotive glass plant in Tepeji del Rio, Mexico. The expansion includes the addition of tempering equipment that will allow partner company CITSA to produce side and back windows, as well as windshield production equipment using advanced PPG technology which will enable CITSA to supply more complex original-equipment parts. CITSA will thus be able to offer clients full sets of automotive glazing. The new equipment is scheduled to come into operation early in 2001. “Since PPG acquired its initial interest in CITSA in 1997, we have steadily increased capabilities for supplying domestically produced parts for automakers“ assembly plants in Mexico,” said Ernest A. Hahn, PPG vice president, automotive glass. “PPG is a global automotive glass leader, and we are fortunate to be able to capitalize on PPG“s technological expertise,” said Isidro Villasenor Navarro, CITSA general manager. According to Villasenor Navarro, the expansion will facilitate CITSA“s ability to meet customer requirements, including new business to supply parts for the 2001 Ram pick-up truck being assembled by Chrysler de Mexico. The eight-year-old CITSA plant employs about 400 people, and 50 to 100 more employees are expected to be added when the expansion is completed. PPG recently began operation of a satellite automotive glass parts assembly facility in Saltillo, Mexico.