Pittsburgh Glass Works LLC on January 23 announced the closing of its Evart, Mich., facility because of the continuing decline in demand for auto glass brought about by the slump in the U.S. auto industry. According to chief operating officer Joseph Stas, the company is responding to excess capacity resulting from the decline that is not expected to improve in the foreseeable future.
PGW announced the closing of its Oshawa, Ontario, Canada glass fabrication plant and its Cambridge, Ontario, Canada and Newark, Del., satellite assembly facilities in December 2008.
Stas stated that “the Evart employees are an excellent workforce, with a very good track record of quality, cooperative teamwork and productivity performance. The employees did everything that they could to make the plant viable. Unfortunately the current severe industry downturn has resulted in an overcapacity situation that is not sustainable for the foreseeable future.” The plant was purchased from Chrysler Corporation in 1998 by PPG Industries Inc. Pittsburgh Glass Works LLC purchased the auto glass business from PPG in September 2008.
Parts currently produced at the Evart facility will be transferred to other PGW factories in North America by the end of March. Evart plant operations will cease at that time.
About Pittsburgh Glass Works
Pittsburgh Glass Works (PGW) supplies automotive OEM windshields, rear and side windows, sunroofs and assemblies for auto and truck manufacturers, and it supplies and distributes replacement automotive glass products for use in the aftermarket. It also provides insurance claims services through its LYNX Services subsidiary, glass management software and internet marketing services through its GTS subsidiary, and e-business solutions through its GLAXIS offering. Automotive glass products are manufactured and fabricated in seven North American plants located in Berea, Ky.; Creighton, Meadville and Tipton, Pa.; Crestline, Ohio; Evansville, Ind.; and Hawkesbury, Ontario, Canada. In addition seven satellite parts assembly plants are located throughout North America and Europe, and two LYNX Services claims management call centers in Ft. Myers, Fla., and Paduca, Ky.
