Guardian Industries Corp. has begun production at its Krasny Sulin (Rostov region), Russia float glass manufacturing plant. The initial ribbon pull marking the beginning of production took place yesterday.
The Rostov region plant will produce Guardian’s ClimaGuard residential and SunGuard commercial glass products. The $220-million plant is Guardian’s largest to date, producing 900 tons of glass per day, and will include a technologically advanced glass coater, according to the company.
“Guardian is bullish on Russia given the excellent growth at our first plant in Ryazan and the customers we have in the country,” says Scott Thomsen, Guardian Global Glass Group president. “The timing is right for the region and for Guardian.”
In 2008, Guardian began production at its first Russian plant in Ryazan, serving the greater Moscow region.
The new plant is located 957 kilometers (594 miles) from Moscow in the southern part of Russia along the Azov Sea. Southern regions of Russia are mainly agricultural with a huge potential for use of its natural resources, a large workforce and a well-developed transportation infrastructure.
“We have enjoyed strong support in Russia from both the local government and a wide variety of customers. Our sales programs at the new plant will focus on the southern Russian and the east Ukrainian regions.” says János Együd, managing director of Guardian Steklo Services, the company overseeing the Ryazan and Rostov plants. “In fact, our customers are very ready for us to begin production and have looked forward to this day.”
