Poland

Pittsburgh Glass Works Signs EU Co-Financing Agreement for New Auto Glass Manufacturing Facility in Poland.

Pittsburgh Glass Works signed of a co-financing agreement under EU Measure 4.5.1 of the Operational Programme Innovative Economy 2007-2013, for the new automotive glass manufacturing facility being built in Środa Śląska near Wrocław.

Pittsburgh Glass Works (PGW) LLC , a world leading supplier of automotive glass and services will invest PLN 244,453,843 overall with PLN 204,494,640 being eligible for co-financing of PLN 61,348,392 at a level of 30%. The project start date was April 28, 2010 and will be completed by December 25, 2013. The implementing institution is the Ministry of Economy of Poland.

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.

Groundbreaking for the new PGW facility was November 2010 and production is expected to begin in early 2012. When fully operational, the new manufacturing site will employ in excess of 160 people.

Products to be offered by the new plant will includeSungate® and Sungate EP® infrared reflective glass, Solextra® blue glass andSoundMaster® enhanced acoustic glass windshields.

The new PGW site in Środa Śląska, near the southwestern Poland city of Wrocław - a high-tech manufacturing center offering an educated workforce and easy access to transportation - will also allow for the future addition of additional windshield capacity and a tempering line for side windows and other products.

The project was supported by Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency.