In an effort to cut company costs, Pilkington reportedly intends to sell or close all its downstream operations in Germany, with the loss of almost 2,400 jobs. Pilkington had announced earlier that it would rationalize its German fabrication operations, but Chief Executive Paolo Scaroni, has discovered that these businesses lost more than £30m last year. Affected by the move would be two of its main plants in Germany at Wesel, near Dusseldorf, and at Wernberg. A further double glazing plant at Gensenkirchen has already been closed. In the UK the company has already closed 19 of its 55 sites and sold another 11. Mr Scaroni has decided, however, that Pilkington should begin to manufacture automotive glass in the UK again, to cope with demand from the country's booming car business. Presently, all auto glass is imported from continental Europe.
