To repair its float furnace at Avils in northern Spain in “record time”, Saint-Gobain Cristalera will spend EUR 35 million, enabling the plant to resume production in September 2008, the multinational…
To repair its float furnace at Avils in northern Spain in “record time”, Saint-Gobain Cristalera will spend EUR 35 million, enabling the plant to resume production in September 2008, the multinational said. Following clear-up work, technicians have finished their analysis of the consequences of the accident that put the furnace out of action and have put forward their report on the costs and timescale for the repairs, which will start immediately. It was initially feared that the furnace would be out of action for much longer. The September 2008 restart will be possible thanks to the company making available all its material and technical resources, as well as to “external support”. The EUR 35 million repair bill includes upgrades to deal with increases in the production of certain types of glass for further processing and to improve quality. The upgrades will enable the production of super-thin glass, which was impossible with the old furnace. The new furnace ought to have a working life of 18 years, which will assure the plant“s future, the company said. Saint-Gobain will be obliged to stop the Proteo 40 project, a bid to develop special glass for the renewable energy and LCD markets. However, the R&D center in Avils will continue its current lines of research as well agreements with universities and research centers.
