PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Glass Works (PGW), global supplier of automotive glass and services, has announced plans to expand in Europe with the construction of a new automotive glass manufacturing facility in Sroda Slaska, near Wroclaw, Poland. The new facility will provide value-added products to PGW’s European customers.
The new facility’s manufacturing focus will be on high-technology, high-content windshields with full surface control that meet the needs of the European premium vehicle market. This segment currently accounts for approximately 60 percent of European auto production.
"The addition of this state-of-the-art facility in Poland provides PGW the opportunity to significantly increase its scope of business and continue to develop and produce value-added solutions for our European customers," said PGW Chairman and CEO James Wiggins. "Our innovative technology, the new facility and our expanding relationships with key European customers all position our business for sustained growth."
Groundbreaking for the new PGW facility is planned for mid-November, with production expected to begin in early 2012. When fully operational, the new manufacturing site will employ in excess of 170 people, the company says.
Products to be offered by the new plant will include Sungate and Sungate EP infrared reflective glass, Solextra blue glass and SoundMaster enhanced acoustic glass windshields.
The new PGW site in Poland also will allow for the future expansion of additional windshield capacity and a tempering line for side windows and other products.
PGW already operates three other facilities in Europe: in Ettlingen and Trossingen, Germany; and Nantes, France.
