To meet growing local demand, Asahi has decided to invest around EUR 135M to build an additional float glass furnace in Russia, with capacity around 1,000/tpd. The new furnace will be the largest in the world & the 4th for Asahi in Russia. Construction is scheduled to begin summer/07 & the site should be onstream by 2009. The aim is to meet increasing demand for high-quality float glass & the growing needs for high value-added products such as mirrors & Low-E glass. Asahi Group subsidiary Glaverbel SA acquired Bor Glassworks, a Russian company, in 1997. In 2002, Glaverbel set up Glaverbel Klin, which started volume production in 2005. The company aims to utilize its current production system, know-how & trained personnel to speed up construction of the new furnace & reduce costs, by building the furnace at Glaverbel Klin, which already has one float glass furnace.
