PPG Provides Technology and Training for Mexico's CITSA Auto Glass Expansion
5 December 2000
PPG Provides Technology and Training for Mexico's CITSA Auto Glass Expansion
PITTSBURGH--Dec. 5, 2000--PPG Industries is the technical and training advisor for a US$10 million expansion at the Cristal Laminado o Templado S.A. de C.V. (CITSA) automotive glass fabricating plant in Tepeji del Rio, Mexico, 30 miles north of Mexico City.The operation is a partnership of PPG and the Villasenor family.
The expansion includes addition of tempering equipment that will allow CITSA to produce side and back automotive windows, as well as windshield production equipment using advanced PPG technology to supply more complicated original-equipment parts.
Expanding the facility's capabilities and capacity will allow CITSA to supply full-car sets of windows and continue to meet demand for laminated and tempered automotive glass in the growing Mexican automotive industry, according to Ernest A. Hahn, PPG vice president, automotive glass.
"Since PPG acquired its initial interest in CITSA in 1997, we have steadily increased capabilities for supplying domestically produced parts for automakers' assembly plants in Mexico," Hahn said. "When the new advanced equipment comes on line in early 2001, CITSA will be able to supply pressed windshields with complex shapes as well as tempered side and back windows."
Isidro Villasenor Navarro, CITSA general manager, said PPG is providing technical support and is training employees at PPG U.S. facilities.
"PPG is a global automotive glass leader, and we are fortunate to be able to capitalize on PPG's technological expertise," Villasenor said. "This expansion will facilitate our ability to meet customer requirements, including new business to supply parts for the 2001 Ram pickup truck being assembled by Chrysler de Mexico in Saltillo and Lago Alberto."
CITSA received QS-9000 registration to meet automotive industry quality requirements, and earned the Chrysler de Mexico Gold Pentastar Award for 1999.
The eight-year-old CITSA plant employs about 400 people, and 50 to 100 more employees are expected to be added when the expansion is completed, Villasenor said. CITSA produces parts for original-equipment and replacement automotive applications, as well as for trucks, buses and heavy equipment.
In Mexico, PPG also produces automotive and industrial coatings and related products in San Juan del Rio, and amorphous silicas at Altamira. The company recently began operation in Saltillo of a satellite automotive glass parts assembly facility.
North America's largest producer of flat glass and flat glass products, PPG also has interest in an auto glass operation in Venezuela. The Pittsburgh-based company is a global maker of fiber glass, coatings and chemicals, with about 120 manufacturing locations in 23 countries. PPG's 1999 sales exceeded US$7.7 billion.
Internet: www.ppgglass.com
Note to Editors: There is a tilde on the letter "n" in the name "Villasenor." The tilde has been omitted for transmission purposes only.