French Float Plant Comes on Stream

摘要

In September 2001, Pilkington and the German glass processor Interpane International Glas started up their new French float glass plant at Freyming-Merlebach, in Lorraine near the German border. Pilkington built the combined float glass manufacturing and laminating plant for the joint venture in less than 16 months, ahead of schedule. The plant, which will be operated by Pilkington on behalf of the joint venture, is the company's first in France. The new float line will have a sales capacity of approximately 250,000 tonnes a year. Production from the joint venture will be shared between Pilkington and Inter-pane. Pilkington will sell direct into the French market through its existing sales operations, while Interpane will use its share of the output in its processing operations.