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CompanyNews
The New Old Name for Arch Aluminum + Vitro
America + UGC = Trulite G&A
Arch Aluminum & Glass, ACI Glass Products (formerly
Vitro Architectural Products) and United Glass Corp. (UGC), have announced
that the merged companies will operate under the name Trulite Glass &
Aluminum Solutions.
Arch had acquired Trulite Industries Ltd. of Mississauga, Ontario, in
2007. In 2010, private equity investor Sun Capital purchased Arch Aluminum,
followed earlier this year by its acquisitions of UGC and ACI Glass Products
respectively.
According to a statement issued by the Tamarac, Fla.-based company, Trulite
Glass & Aluminum Solutions will continue to service the commercial
glazing market through its various fabrication facilities across the country.
The statement notes that Super Sky, a commercial skylight manufacturer,
and AWP, manufacturer of residential windows, will continue to be an essential
aspect of the product portfolio moving forward.
Fabrication of all glass systems will continue under the Envision®
brand introduced by the former ACI Glass Products. Manufacture and distribution
of architectural aluminum entrances, curtainwall, window wall and framing
systems will remain a core division within Trulite. In addition, the product
line will continue to focus heavily on mirror and high-performance, tempered,
laminated, insulating and decorative glass.
“The combination of these three noteworthy companies begins with tremendous
resources to support the glazing industry,” says Jeff Leone, president
and chief executive officer. “Our customers will now be working with an
industry leader in terms of quality and on-time delivery. Delighting customers
with reliable on time and on spec performance will continue to be our
focus and mission.”
www.trulite.com
CRL’s New Manufacturing HQ is Up and Running
C.R. Laurence Co. Inc. (CRL) has opened a new manufacturing headquarters
in Los Angeles. The 330,000-square-foot facility is located in the wholesale
district, just five minutes from the company’s world headquarters and
ten minutes from downtown Los Angeles. The company says the new facility
is its largest to date, bringing its overall manufacturing and distribution
capacity in the area to roughly one million square feet.
Much of the equipment for the new facility is coming from the nearby CRL
manufacturing plant where the company will continue to fabricate automotive,
transaction and hospitality products.
www.crlaurence.com
Garibaldi Glass Opens New Facility; Celebrates 45th Anniversary
June 24 was a special milestone for Garibaldi Glass, in Burnaby, B.C.,
as the company celebrated both 45 years in business and the opening of
its new facility with an event that welcomed employees and clients to
celebrate.
According to an announcement from the fabricator, the new factory features
one of the largest tempering ovens in the Greater Vancouver Area.
“We have always pushed the envelope and challenged ourselves. We also
have been fortunate to be surrounded with talented people at all levels
of the organization,” says Carey Mobius, president. “We are a second-generation,
family-owned business. That legacy, coupled with our 150 employees…gives
us a solid working relationship with our customers.”
Mobius adds, “Our motivation is to continue to develop new products, services
and capabilities to meet the ever-increasing, complex requirements of
our customers. Our company has grown, expanded and evolved from day one
and there is no reason that will ever change. I am confident that this
45th anniversary is our threshold for many more years of glass solutions
and innovation.”
www.garibaldiglass.com
Sika Establishes Silicone Competency Center
Sika Corp. has established a Silicone Competency Center in Lakewood, N.J.
This announcement follows the formation of the Sika Facades, Fenestration
and Insulating Glass Business Unit (FFI) earlier this year (see March
2011 USGlass, page 21). The competency center is being positioned to serve
the needs of customers in the North American facades, fenestration and
insulating glass marketplace, as well as the broad base of customers in
the construction products market segment. The center also will serve internally
for formulation, application, testing and manufacturing excellence.
www.sikausa.com
The Fenzi Group Celebrates 70 Years of Business
The Fenzi Group, based in Italy, is celebrating 70 years of business.
With a storehouse of knowledge built up over 70 years of specialization
in mirror coatings, IG sealants and decorative paint, the Group attributes
its longevity and market position to high-quality materials, well thought-out
manufacturing processes and an emphasis on customer support. The Group
also relies on an international network assembled over the years on five
continents. It notes that its strategy for the future is focused on further
strengthening its foreign footprint, especially in markets that display
strong growth potential, including China and Russia. Last year, the Group
celebrated its 30th year in Asia and inaugurated a new manufacturing plant
in Russia; in both these locations, further expansion is on the drawing
boards.
One-on-One with Alessandro Fenzi, CEO …
Q: What would you say was the greatest factor
in the success of the company in its early days?
AF: Without a doubt, the primary success factor was the decision
to focus on flat glass. It’s the element that sets Fenzi apart, the only
chemical company in the world to be completely dedicated to secondary
processing of flat glass. A characteristic that allowed it to stay constantly
and totally in touch with the needs of this particular market, understanding
its requirements, accelerating innovations and contributing to its growth...
Q: The trend toward energy savings is spreading
everywhere, including emerging economies. How does the Group take this
into account?
AF: The quest for wealth through technological development
is taking hold around the world. The focus on quality products, capable
of ensuring maximum performance at the lowest cost, both economically
and socially, is rampant and widespread. It’s the best possible condition
for Fenzi, which has made the unceasing quest for quality its philosophy
of life. The trend toward energy efficiency also falls into this category
because it improves living comfort with an appreciable cost savings. The
news is that this awareness does not apply just to mature economies, but
has become characteristic of the new economies as well, which are making
enormous strides in this area. The demand for insulating glass is constantly
growing in countries like Russia, China and all over South America …
Q: In a few words, how would you sum up Fenzi over the last 70 years?
Or the strategy for the next 70 years?
AF: The four key words are carved into our DNA: specialization, as
we discussed; internationalization, through a process of global expansion
begun more than 40 years ago, as true pioneers; dedication, with a spirit
of sacrifice, because results like this are not gained without being fully
convinced about the work you do; continuity, because after 70 years the
company is still 100-percent owned and managed by its founding family.
… and Dino Fenzi, President
Q: How did the decision come about to penetrate
the Asian market?
DF: It all began in 1967, when we participated in the Journées
Internationales de l’Equipement de Miroiterie in Paris; it was the industry’s
first international trade show … The initial contacts were made at that
time and the first network of clients was created. Industrial scale manufacturing
of mirrors began in Hong Kong around 1974 and in 1988 China acquired its
first glass processing machines. This industrial development progressed
in stages and, step by step, the Asian market was created and grew into
what we know today.
But back then it was different. In those far-off lands, Fenzi started
from zero; it built its sales relationships from the ground up. On the
strength of this, we continued to follow the developments in that market
until we decided to manufacture the products in highest demand on-site
as, starting in 2002, it became clear that it was absolutely necessary
to remain in close proximity to our customers.
Q: What other emerging global areas are potentially
of interest to the Group?
DF: The giant global market has grown considerably with the arrival
of the emerging economies. And it will continue to grow … China, India
and Malaysia, then Brazil, Russia, South Africa and Indonesia: all will
participate in global production and they will then need to ensure they
have a reliable network of suppliers.
Q: Do you see new developments for the Group
in solar energy?
DF: [We are] seriously involved in the development of CSP (concentrated
solar power) technology, in which mirrors of various kinds are the primary
instrument used to capture solar energy. The latest developments have
led to progress in terms of system output, because the entire supply chain
is quickly moving ahead in terms of optimization of the individual components.
There are many projects around the world, but the investment requirements
are extremely high and there are often obstacles in the way, even of a
geopolitical nature. Today the USA and China are the countries holding
the greatest potential…
briefly …
Israel Berger & Associates LLC, consultants on
building envelope technologies, has merged with Viridian Energy &
Environmental LLC, consultants specializing in energy efficiency, environmentally
responsible design and construction. www.ibany.com
Biesse Exchange has re-designed websites at www.BiesseExchange.com
and www.IntermacExchange.com.
New features include improved category classifications, a slideshow for
machine images and the ability to search pre-owned machinery listings
Serious Materials has changed its name to Serious Energy. The
new name reflects the company’s suite of energy software services and
building products.
www.seriousenergy.com
USG
© Copyright 2011 Key Communications Inc. All rights reserved.
No reproduction of any type without expressed written permission.
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