Guardian Industries has culminated a few years of analysis & strategic planning in announcing plans to build a float glass manufacturing plant in Krasny Sulin (Rostov region), Russia. The US$ 220M plant will be Guardians largest, producing 900/tpd & will include a technologically advanced glass coater. The Rostov plant will produce Guardians high-performance, energy-efficient ClimaGuard® (residential) & SunGuard® (commercial) glass products for construction of homes, offices, retail, health-care & other facilities. The plant is expected to begin operation in mid-2012, based on fulfilment of all incentives & agreements with local authorities & will initially create 300 new jobs. Located 957 kilometres (594 miles) from Moscow in the southern part of Russia along the Azov Sea, Rostov has sufficient natural resources, a large workforce & a well-developed transportation infrastructure. The area is also close to Sochi, home of the 2014 Winter Olympics. The location is a good fit for Guardian's growth strategy to supply glass to Russia & neighbouring countries. In 2008, Guardian began production at its plant in Ryazan, Russia, serving the greater Moscow region. Guardian was one of the first companies to invest in Eastern Europe beginning construction in Hungary in July 1989, prior the fall of the Berlin Wall & presently operates facilities in Hungary, eastern Germany & Poland, among other European locations.
