Owens Corning’s furnace in its Gous-Khroustalny, Russia, glass reinforcements facility is now operational. It is the latest step the company has taken to increase its global capacity to produce composite material and to serve the Russian and CIS markets; the facility will produce roving and Wet Use Chopped Strands as well as other products.

Nippon Sheet Glass is to close two factories in Europe as it continues to battle the effects of the global economic crisis. The group’s European Automotive Glass division plans to close its Ylöjärvi plant in Finland, which employs 320 people, and its Landskrona site in Sweden, which makes toughened glass and employs 100 people. The closures would cost it €31 million, but could boost profits by €14 million a year.

Vitro reported consolidated net sales for flat glass were up 7.9 percent in third quarter 2012 compared to the same period a year ago. Company officials attributed the gain to “strong dynamics in the OEM automotive market and a stable domestic construction market.” Vitro exited bankruptcy in Mexico earlier this year after a Mexican judge approved its restructuring plan.

PPG Industries announced its transition of residential insulating glass production to its IG Service Center in Carlisle, Pa., by installing the first Automated Tri-Lite Assembly System (ATLAS) production line in the United States; previously located in Allentown, Pa., the PPG IG Service Center distributes IG units for use in residential windows and patio doors.

• China’s ten largest solar photovoltaic enterprises have accumulated in excess of 111 billion yuan ($17.5 billion) in debt, recent data from US financial services company Maxim Group shows. China’s solar industry is mired in a crisis, facing anti-dumping measures from the US and reduced imports from Europe.

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