sain t-gobain annu al report 2008 annual report

Innovative
Materials
FLAT GLASS
8
With more than 37,000 employees in 40 countries, the Flat Glass
business is the leading flat glass manufacturer in Europe and the
second largest worldwide (1) . It comprises four main businesses:
flat glass manufacturing, processing and distribution of glass for
the building industry, automotive glazing, and distribution of
glass products, photovoltaic modules and systems for the solar
energy market.
Flat glass is manufactured in large industrial facilities on long
float lines that produce everything from basic clear and colored
grades to more sophisticated types with metallic oxides or other
special coatings for use in a wide range of applications, such as
insulation and solar control glass.
The Flat Glass Division has 34 float lines worldwide, including 13
operated through joint ventures. A new line is currently under
construction in Egypt.
In addition to the core product range, the Division manufactures
specialty glass for the building industry, including colored, high
light transmitting and embossed glass, and glass ceramics.
Eurokera, a joint venture set up with Corning Glass Works, is the
co-world leader (1) in ceramic glass hobs.
Over a third of the glass produced by the Flat Glass Division’s
plants is further processed before being sold, notably for the
building and automotive industries.
Conducted through a network of downstream manufacturing
and distribution companies, the “Building Transformation”
business covers a broad spectrum of applications, including wall
facings, large architectural projects, urban amenities, industrial
joinery, furniture, bathroom fixtures and interior decoration.
All of these applications have benefited from ground-breaking
innovations, such as low-emission (low-E) glass, solar-control
glass, electrochromic (electrically-controlled) glass, shatterproof
glass and fireproof glass.
The Division also offers specialty glass products that are well
positioned in their respective markets, such as oven door and
refrigerator glass (Euroveder), industrial optics and industrial
refrigeration (Sovis).
As a glass manufacturer and processor, the Flat Glass business is
stepping up growth in the renewable energy segment, with a
presence across the value chain, from the manufacture of special
glass for photovoltaic modules, solar concentrator mirrors and
photovoltaic cells, to the distribution and installation of
complete photovoltaic systems.
Saint-Gobain also manufactures automotive glazing through its
Saint-Gobain Sekurit subsidiary, which supplies major European
and global carmakers with windshields, side windows, rear
windows, glass sun-roofs and other ready-to-assemble modules.
These are all complex products, featuring advanced toughening,
lamination and tinting technologies and high-performance
coatings. They are also changing very quickly to deliver the
greater visibility, insulation and soundproofing that give today’s
users the safe, comfortable driving experience they expect. We
also serve other segments of the transportation industry, with
glazing products for aircraft, railcars, trucks and armored vehicles.
Businesses
and Products
Main Applications Main Competitors Competitive Ranking (1)
Basic glass products
Flat glass
Building products
manufacturing
and distribution
Automotive glazing
• Plain & tinted glass, coated glass
• Glass for construction, building and interior
design; furniture glass
• Clear and safety glass for the automotive
OEM and after markets
• Aircraft & transportation industries
• NSG (Japan)
• Asahi (Japan)
• Guardian (United States)
• P.P.G (United States)
• Cardinal (United States)
No. 1 in Europe
No. 3 worldwide
No. 1 in Europe
and no. 2 worldwide
Solar energy solutions
• Photovoltaic systems, solar heating
and solar thermodynamic systems
No. 1 in Europe and no. 2
worldwide for the production
of glass for photovoltaic systems
Specialty glass
• Fireproof glass, nuclear safety glass, industrial
optics, glass for household appliances
and industrial refrigeration
Schott (Germany)
Leader or co-leader worldwide
Saint-Gobain - 2008 Annual Report
(1)
Source Saint-Gobain.