November 4, 2013|
- (Glass International) Approximately 5,000 workers at French tableware group Arc International have been placed on reduced hours as the company focuses on paying down a bank loan. Arc needs to pay back an €80 million debt to its bank and has launched an urgent action plan to reduce costs.
- Libbey Glass has warned that its third quarter revenue is likely to be weaker than expected. The Toledo, Ohio, based glassware manufacturer expects to post revenue of about $204 million for the quarter ended September 30th, about $5 million less than in last year’s third quarter.
- (Business Standard) Fair trade watchdog the Competition Commission of India has rejected allegations that Saint Gobain Glass India abused its dominant market position. The ruling comes after a complaint filed by HNG Float Glass Ltd. alleged that Saint Gobain used anti-competitive practices and abused its dominant position in India’s clear float glass market.
- Pilkington North America Inc. has agreed to pay a settlement of $207,723 for alleged violations of hazardous waste laws at its float glass plant in Lathrop, Calif., according to California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control.
- Affected by slowing growth rates in such downstream sectors as iron and steel, building materials, and glass and by reduced demand for infrastructure construction, China’s refractory materials production in 2012 fell 4.43% over the previous year, according to a new report from Research and Markets. Production decreased to 28.1891 million tons, with magnesia bricks, magnesium carbon and alumina magnesia carbon, and siliceous brick dropping 15.94%, 8.45%, and 8.37% from 2011, respectively.
- SGL Group (The Carbon Company) announced that it will close its Canadian graphite electrode facility in Lachute, Quebec. The closure is a result of the company’s global realignment strategy and cost savings program, which aims to sustainably enhance SGL’s competitive position and improve profitability. Operations in Lachute will begin to wind down at the end of 2013, with closure expected in the first quarter of 2014.
- Alcoa has temporarily halted production on one of two pot lines at its Ma’aden, Saudi Arabia joint venture plant. The plant is in startup phase, and the temporary shutdown was caused by a period of pot instability, the company says. The line is expected to be restored and back online in the first half of 2014.