Guardian Industries Corporation Business Report FY ended Dec. 2014

Recent Years

Joint Venture

-In 2013, SRG Global, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company, and Faltec Co., Ltd. announced the opening of their joint venture manufacturing facility in Gateway City Industrial Estate in Thailand. The manufacturing operation, called FALTEC SRG Global (Thailand) Co., Ltd., provides injection molding, chrome plating, painting, and assembly in the production of radiator grilles, body side moldings, rear garnish, and roof rails. The plant currently employs approximately 50 workers, a number that could increase to 160 at full capacity. Customers include Nissan, Ford, Honda, Isuzu, and Mitsubishi Motors. (From a press release on September 27, 2013)

Business Partnership

-In November 2011, SRG Global announced that it formed a business alliance with Faltec Co., Ltd. The collaboration will allow the two companies to develop cooperation in a mutual complementary form by leveraging their worldwide plants for automotive exterior products. Based on the partnership agreement, Faltec will supply exterior plastic products and molds made in Asia to SRG, while SRG will provide Faltec with its products made in North America, South America, and East Europe. This enables both companies to provide support to automakers in regions that they previously could not without heavy investment.

Restructuring

Divestiture of two automotive subsidiaries
-In November 2014, Central Glass Co., Ltd., announced that it has finalized the acquisitions of two of the Company's subsidiaries: Guardian Automotive Products, Inc., located in Sterling Heights, Michigan, U.S.; and Guardian Automotive-E S.A., headquartered in Luxembourg. The transaction also includes three other automotive glass manufacturing sites in Auburn, U.S.; Ligonier, U.S.; and Grevenmacher, Luxembourg. The acquisition broadens Central Glass's portfolio to include infrared reflective coatings on automotive glass, heated windshields, and heads-up display windshields. (From a press release on November 1, 2014)

Awards

-SRG Global Inc. announced that five of its manufacturing facilities were awarded a Supplier Quality Excellence Award from General Motors in 2014. These facilities were located in Portageville, Missouri, U.S.; Newbern, Tennessee, U.S.; Evansville, Indiana, U.S.; Lliria, Spain; and Suzhou, China. (From a press release on September 30, 2014)

R&D Structure

-The Company has over 80 scientists, engineers and technicians working at its Science & Technology Center in Carleton, Michigan, USA.

R&D Facilities

-SRG Global has advanced development centers in the following locations:

  • Taylor, Michigan, U.S.
  • Lliria, Spain
  • Suzhou, China

Patents

-The Company has registered over 700 patents in the United States.

Product development

Rain & Light Sensor
-The sensor automatically activates and adjusts headlights and windshield wipers depending on outside conditions, sensing rain and brightness outside vehicles.

SilverGuard Infrared Reflective Glass - IRR glass
-SilverGuard IRR Windshields helps to keep passengers more comfortable by blocking out heat from the sun, thus improving fuel economy and reducing emissions by decreasing demands on the HVAC system.

G-Coat
-Utilizing a patented process to dramatically improved paint adhesion to chrome, G-Coat delivers unlimited custom color options for any chrome-plated plastic part.

Investments outside U.S.


-In 2014, SRG Global Inc., a subsidiary of the Company, announced that it will establish a new plant in Hubei Province, which will become the company's second production base in China. The new 23,000-square-meter facility will have an injection molding line, a chrome plating line, and a painting line. Production is scheduled to begin in early 2016. The new plant will be SRG Global's fourteenth manufacturing facility in the world and is expected to employ approximately 350 people. (From news releases issued by multiple sources on November 4, 2014)


-In May 2014, SRG Global Inc. announced that it will expand its manufacturing facility in Ibi, Alicante, Spain. The expansion is expected to be completed in early 2015 and will add 20 new jobs at the facility. (From a press release on May 9, 2014)


-In 2014, SRG Global Inc. announced that its Irapuato, Mexico facility unveiled a plaque commemorating the start of an expansion project that will more than double its size. The expansion is expected to be operational in 2015. The expansion will add 215,000 square feet to the 205,000-square-feet facility, providing complete part production capability, including injection molding, chrome plating and assembly. The larger facility will also provide the necessary capacity to offer new products at the site, such as interior trim components, rocker panels and fog lamp bezels. The expansion is expected to create 230 new jobs. (From a press release on April 24, 2014)

-In February 2011, SRG Global Inc. announced that it has broken ground on its newest facility in Irapuato, Mexico. The facility will have complete part production capabilities, including plastic injection molding, top coating, chrome-plating and assembly. The initial phase of the project is estimated at USD 25 million to USD 35 million. The facility was scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2012. (From a press release on February 21, 2011)

Data

-As of April 2015, there are approximately 17,000 employees working for the Company and its subsidiaries. As of February 2015, SRG Global has 5,100 employees worldwide.