Pilkington Automotive Ltd. Business Report up until FY ended Mar. 2015
Restructuring
-In 2013, the Company announced that it would close its plant located in Lathrop, California, U.S. Production was expected to cease in February 2014, while shipping operations would end in August 2014. The Company decided to close the facility as it could not feasibly invest into the facility for furnace repairs and pollution-control equipment needed to meet new standards. (From a press release on November 13, 2013)
-In 2011-12, the following cost-cutting measures in terms of production capacity and production volume were initiated in response to customer demand.
- The Company announced its intention to mothball one of its three float lines in the U.K. Manufacturing ceased on the UK6 Float line and the solar cutting operation, both based in St. Helens, by the end of April 2012. This resulted in a reduction of 150 jobs across the two sites.
-In 2009, the Company announced that it would close its facility in Clinton, Michigan, U.S. due to poor economic conditions and their effect on the automotive industry. The plant would be closed in phases, with the process expected to end by the summer of 2010. (From a statement in November 2009)
-In 2008, the Company announced plans to close its automotive glazing plant in Eisenerz, Austria. The closure was due to rapidly deteriorating economic conditions, which resulted in declining demand from the European automotive industry. (From a press release on November 27, 2008)
Awards
-In February 2010, the Company received a Quality Achievement Award from truck manufacturer DAF for its backlights. The award recognized Pilkington's three plants - Ylojarvi and Tampere in Finland, and Sao Paulo in Brazil. (From a press release on February 3, 2010)
Certifications
-In August 2009, the Company announced that its Tianjin plant in China obtained ISO14001 and ISO/TS16949 certifications. Thus, all three Chinese plants in Tianjin, Changchun and Guilin are now ISO14001 certified. (From a press release on August 4, 2009)
Divestitures
-In July 2007, NSG Group announced the sale of Pilkington Australasia to CSR Limited for just over GBP 300 million. The transaction covers all of the company's Building Products and Automotive operations in Australia and New Zealand.
R&D Expenditure
-The Company invests approximately GBP 29 million annually in research and development.
R&D Facilities
-The Company has regional technical centers in the U.K. and U.S. Additionally, the Company has a technical center in Japan, a glazing solutions center in Italy, local automotive support groups in Germany and Italy, and glazing simulation centers in Europe, Japan and the U.S.
Product Development
Glass with adjustable transparency
-The Company developed a line of glass products called Pilkington Sundym Select using Suspended Particle Device-SmartGlass (SPD) technology which allows motorists to control light levels within the vehicle at the touch of a button. Pilkington Sundym Select also reduces the need for air conditioning systems by blocking heat with its infrared reflective technology, thus saving weight, fuel and CO2 emissions. In October 2009, the Company was licensed by US-based Research Frontiers Inc to manufacture and sell SPD-Smart light-control automotive products. (From a press release on October 12, 2009)
Investments outside U.K.
<Poland>
-In the second quarter of the fiscal year ended in March 2015, the Company began the expansion of its manufacturing facility in Chmielow, Poland. The expansion will consist of a 30,000-square-meter extension as well as additional production lines for side windows and laminated side windows. An estimated EUR 24 million will be invested to increase the facility's production capacity by 50%. The expansion is expected to be completed by the end of 2015 and will provide 300 new jobs. (From a press release on December 3, 2014)
-In September 2011, the Company announced plans to construct a new facility in Chmielow, Poland. This manufacturing plant would have an annual production capacity of seven million windshields, side and rear windows. An expected total of PLN 450 million will be invested into the facility. The facility will feature three production lines and have a total area of 65,000 square meters. The plant is expected to create approximately 500 jobs by 2014. (From a press release on September 15, 2011)
<Mexico>
-In 2012, the Company announced that its new plant at Mexicali, Mexico started partial production in December 2011 and will move to full plant load by May 2012. The new 9,600-square-meter facility is located 50 meters from the main plant in an existing building which has been completely refurbished. The USD 16 million investment will boost production at the site to a total of 2.5 million windshields per year, serving both the automotive aftermarket and OEM market. The new plant will produce the full range of laminated windscreen products, including the Company's suite of solar absorbing automotive glasses such as EZ-Kool. (From a press release on June 5, 2012)
<Slovakia>
-In May 2009, the Company established a plant in Senec, Slovakia, and started production of automotive glazing. The facility has a total of seven assembly lines and employs 46 people. (From a press release on May 11, 2009)
<Brazil>
-In November 2010, the Company announced plans to invest BRL 140 million to construct a new plant in Cacapava, Sao Paulo, Brazil. The new plant will be built alongside the Company's existing facilities in Cacapava and will expand the production capacity of laminated and tempered parts in the region. A new laminating line will begin operations in early 2011 and will increase the Company's annual windshield production capacity in Brazil by approximately 50% to three million windshields. The tempering line will begin operations in phases, with the first phase completing at the beginning of 2012. The plant will have approximately 200 workers as both operations begin production. (From a press release on November 2, 2010)
-In August 2008, the Company announced plans for a significant expansion of its windscreen glazing capacity in Brazil. The Company constructed an additional windscreen production line adjacent to its existing facility at Cacapava, Sao Paulo. Production roll-out was expected to begin in early 2010, with a projected increase in its annual windscreen production capacity by more than 1 million. The total investment in the project was expected to be approximately EUR 43 million. (From a press release on August 7, 2008)
-In August 2007, the Company announced that it had started the construction of an automotive glass plant in Vishakhapatnam in India. The plant was expected to begin production around summer 2008. The total construction cost amounted to approximately EUR 15 million. The plant had an annual production capacity of about 500,000 automotive windscreens and initially employed 350 workers. (From a press release on August 21, 2007)
Data
Sales |
(in million JPY) |
| FY ended Mar. 31, 2015 | FY ended Mar. 31, 2014 | FY ended Mar. 31, 2013 | FY ended Mar. 31, 2012 | FY ended Mar. 31, 2011 | |
| Net Sales | 91,184 | 89,782 | 65,605 | 69,314 | 63,542 |
| Net Income | (8,017) | (9,309) | (8,537) | (3,321) | 3,270 |