sain t-gobain annu al report 2008 annual report

Packaging
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Saint-Gobain Packaging ranks No.2 worldwide (1) in glass
containers, with sales operations in forty-six countries
and manufacturing facilities in twelve.
The Sector offers its 20,000 customers the power of a
global network of six Research and Development centers,
49 glass plants and 98 glass furnaces, allied with a local
marketing presence in what is still an essentially regional
market. In 2008, the Sector had 15,500 employees
and produced 26.2 billion bottles and jars.
Following the sale of its plastic pumps business in 2006
and its flasks operations in 2007, the Sector has completely
refocused on its core areas of excellence – wine,
champagne and spirits bottles and food jars (for baby
foods, soluble products, yogurts, desserts, etc.). Saint-
Gobain is a world leader (1) in these markets, a position that
is supported by its strong regional footprint. The Sector
also operates in other segments of the food and beverages
industry, supplying glass containers for such products as
fruit juices, soft drinks, mineral water and oil.
In recent years, we have been pursuing an ambitious
acquisitions strategy to partner our multinational
packaging customers in their international expansion,
starting in Eastern Europe (Ukraine and Russia) in 2005.
In 2006, we strengthened our presence in Latin America
and in the wine bottle market, by acquiring a majority stake
in Chile-based SG Envases, whose glass plant came on
stream in October 2007. Then in 2008, we acquired a
controlling interest in Kamyshinsky Steklotarny,
a Russian manufacturer of clear glass bottles
and jars for the food industry.
The Sector’s design capabilities and decoration skills,
allied with its versatile manufacturing base, the proximity
of its plants to customers’ production facilities,
and its strong commitment to customer service have
propelled it to the position of co-leader of the European
market, No.2 player in the United States and leader
or co-leader of each of its market segments.
All of its Research and Development programs have
a strong environmental focus and its business strategy is
built around sustainable development targets underpinned
by core social responsibility and environmental values.
For example, research has been conducted into glassmaking
processes, glass materials and eco-designed bottles
and jars to reduce CO 2 emissions during the production
process to virtually nothing. This research into the entire
product life cycle, including recycling (because all
Saint-Gobain - 2008 Annual Report
(1)
Source Saint-Gobain.