Saint-Gobain enters the PDP (Plasma Display Panel) glass market
April 19th, 2005
The Flat Glass Sector of Saint-Gobain (Saint-Gobain Vitrage) has decided to expand on the booming glass market for flat TV panels, through the production of glass for PDP (Plasma Display Panel). This technology aims at top-of-the-range large dimension screens.
This production will be carried out within the framework of DISPLAY GLASS ALLIANCE, a joint venture created for this purpose between Saint-Gobain Vitrage (30%), the Japanese glassmaker Central Glass (40%)-of which Saint-Gobain Vitrage is already partner in Automotive Glass in Japan-and the Korean glassmaker Hankuk Glass Industries (Hanglas) (30%), of which Saint-Gobain Vitrage is the main shareholder.
The first processing plant of this joint venture will be built on the Ochang site, located 100 km from Seoul (Korea). The primary float glass to be processed will initially come from a Central Glass facility located in Ube (Japan), and subsequently from a float line in Korea.
Production should come on stream by the beginning of 2006.
The association of competencies and know-how from Central Glass, Hanglas and Saint-Gobain, will provide the technologies, products and a customer base that should ensure the technical, financial and commercial success of the joint venture
Saint-Gobain Vitrage
Employing around 37,000 people, Saint-Gobain's Flat Glass Sector (Saint-Gobain Vitrage) generated sales close to 4.4 billion euro in 2004. Saint-Gobain Vitrage is currently present in 39 countries and ranks number two worldwide and number one in Europe in the flat glass market.
Saint-Gobain Vitrage is organized according to the markets it serves. Its businesses include: Saint-Gobain Glass, which specializes in basic glass products; the Saint-Gobain Glass Solutions network, which processes and distributes glass destined for the architectural and decoration markets; Saint-Gobain Sekurit, the leading supplier of glass to the automotive and transport markets; and finally Saint-Gobain Specialties, which supplies glass products to the domestic appliances, electronics and photovoltaics industries, but also to the industrial and commercial equipment industries.
Contact
Saint-Gobain K.K.
TEL: +81 3 5275 0861