It has been announced that Philippine-based company Republic Asahi Glass Corp., a subsidiary of Republic Glass Holdings Corp., of the Philippines, is investing Pso 6 billion (US$ 230 million) to expan…
It has been announced that Philippine-based company Republic Asahi Glass Corp., a subsidiary of Republic Glass Holdings Corp., of the Philippines, is investing Pso 6 billion (US$ 230 million) to expand its capacity over the next five years. Republic Asahi“s president Federico Puno said that the company is looking to improve the operations of its two major divisions – basic automotives and construction – to strengthen its hold in the domestic market and to sustain its export potential. The company is a joint venture between Japanese Asahi Glass, and the Republic Glass group, which is controlled by the Velasco family, with roughly 35% owned by the public and about 7% by tycoon Henry Sy. For automotive glass, the firm is setting up additional facilities for lamination, reflective coating and insulation to keep up with increasing car sales in Indonesia. Mr. Puno stated that in 1995 the company, which supplies all the glass needs of car makers in Indonesia, surpassed the annual sales of car firms after installing windows and windshields to 200,000 units compared to sales of about 150,000 cars. As for the requirements of basic construction, Mr. Puno said they are also commissioning the float plant or main plant in Batangas to answer to both local and export needs (see Glass-Technology International, No 2-96). He cited the new trend of using coloured glass in buildings instead of being concrete-heavy which is actually cheaper than aggregates besides being more aesthetically appealing. “Because of the construction boom [in Indonesia], our exports are down to 20% of production from 50% before. So, with the new float plant near the Batangas international port, we aim to service Visayas and Mindanao as well as neighbouring countries,” he explained. The company expects that, by the year 2000, it will have doubled its capacity and as a consequence, doubled its revenues. By then, Republic Asahi projects an annual income of about Pso 5 billion from Pso 2.4 billion in 1995. The firm will also set up plants in the Visayas and Mindanao areas eventually as a takeoff point for the markets of Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia, Mr. Puno added. Because of dwindling raw materials for glass, in particular, feldspar and dolomite, the firm has been experimenting with lahar from Mount Pinatubo and has been able to use it as substitute for about 7% of the needed silica.