Guardian begins glass production at new Brazilian plant

Float glass production is underway at Guardian Industries’ newest facility in Tatui, Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Tatui plant will produce 800 tons per day and create 300 new jobs, according to a May 21 release.

It is the second Guardian plant to serve fast-growing Brazil, building on the success of a plant established a decade ago. That plant in Porto Real, Brazil, has added a state-of-the-art coating machine, which enables the manufacture of a variety of world-class, high-performance coated glass products. Guardian’s recent investment in the country is more than $180 million.

“Since building our first float glass plant we have grown enough to support a second," said Mark LaCasse, Guardian’s managing director of Latin American operations, in the release. "In fact, Guardian products have become very well known in Brazil thanks to our innovative customer outreach and marketing programs. This new plant will allow us to better meet the demand for our interior products, including Guardian mirror and Guardian DiamondGuard, our scratch resistant glass, as well as our residential and commercial glass products.”

Workers pulled the first ribbon of glass from the Tatui plant April 26.