Welcome to THE GL@ZINE News Archive: May 2002

 

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THE GL@ZINE ISSUE 26 28 May 2002

Asahi Glass profit declined sharply in 2002
Asahi Glass Company, Ltd. released its consolidated operating results for Fiscal 2002, ended March 31, 2002, last week. Net sales amounted to Y1,263,196 million ($10,337 million). Operating profit and recurring profit declined sharply to Y58,988 miilion ($483 million) and Y44,470 million ($364 million), respectively, year on year
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Bowater Windows Launches 'The Prime Connection'
Bowater Windows, the £200m European window company, has announced the launch of The Prime Connection - a new division dedicated exclusively to supplying housebuilders with a total design, fabrication, installation and commissioning service for PVCu windows, doors and conservatories.
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Pilkington at Interbuild
Pilkington Processing and Merchanting UK, will be actively participating at Interbuild 2002 at the NEC, Birmingham this year.
The popular Pilkington RIBA Approved CPD Seminars are part of the RIBACPD @ Interbuild 2002 programme and will be run in Room 23 next to Hall 8. Glass in Fire Resistance will be held on Monday 10th at 3.00pm and Thursday 13th at 10.30am and Glass for Energy Management will be run at 3.00pm on Tuesday 11th. The CPD seminar places can be booked via the RIBA Interbuild website
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Dramatic start of leg eight for Assa Abloy boat
France lived up to its reputation of being a nation that loves sailing. Thousands of spectators lined up to bid the boats farewell in La Rochelle on a windy and partly sunny spring day. While leaving the dock for a spectacular send off, it was all smiles onboard ASSA ABLOY but as soon as the start signal hit, things changed dramatically.
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5,000 Companies Registered with FENSA 
On 23rd May the GGF stated that over 5,000 companies are fully registered with FENSA. 'It is great that such a huge number of companies have decided to follow the simple and inexpensive route offered by the FENSA organization.'
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OFT Shuts Door on Unfair Trading Practices
A door supplier has been stopped by the OFT from supplying and installing poor quality goods. The owner of Surrey-based Specialist Doors, Mark Talbot, has given written undertakings under the Stop Now Regulations that he will stop breaching the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982. Assurances were also provided by Mr Talbot under the provisions of Part III of the Fair Trading Act 1973.
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A Fresh Coat of Paint for Senior
A state of the art powder coating facility has recently opened in Denaby, South Yorkshire. Senior Coatings Ltd offers a fast and efficient architectural powder coating service to sister company Senior Aluminium Systems plc as well as fabricators and customers throughout the UK.
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Synseal Factory Quadruples in Size in Seven Years
Synseal Extrusions Ltd acquired an extra 207,000sq ft in September last year in anticipation of increased demand for the Shield Conservatory System. Less than a year later and just a few months after the launch, the systems company is adding a further 100,000sq ft.

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Around 92% of the share capital of Glaverbel owned by Asahi Glass
At the end of the public offer, which was reopened between April 15 and May 6, 2002, Asahi Glass Co., Ltd (J.AHG) holds, directly and indirectly, 92.11% of the share capital of Glaverbel (GLAB.BRU). 26,723 convertible bonds in total were also tendered, which represents 98.99% of the total issued.
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Nu Stock - Investment For the Future
North of England based Quantal Fabricator Nu Stock has invested £1/4 million in new factory and warehousing facilities, in order to handle their increased volume more effectively.
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Astraseal and HW Systems Working Together
Graham-Holmes Astraseal has signed a three-year supply agreement with HW Systems to manufacture a range of products including the HW 70 suite, the Vertical Slider and the FrameFast Bay cavity closer.
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Global Grows With New Show Site
South Yorkshire-based Global Window's decision to change profile suppliers has proven to be a success. Less than two years since adopting the new system - Permacell Finesse Ltd's Legend 70 - Global is celebrating its impressive growth with the opening of a new show site at Ferndale Garden Centre, near Dronfield.
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Successful Fire Door Seminar to be Repeated
BM TRADA Certification and Chiltern lnternational Fire will stage a one-day seminar, Timber Fire Doors Explained, on 30" May 2002.
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Experts Warn of Impact of New Thermal, Sound and Fire Regulations
TRADA Technology, Chiltern lntemational Fire and AIRO, the Acoustical lnvestigation and Research Organisation, will hold a one-day seminar to address imminent revisions to the Building Regulations.
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Ashford Wins 'Shape up for Homes' Project
Norfolk based Ashford Windows Ltd has won the tender to manufacture french/balcony doors and windows in a refurbishment project for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.
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Latest News from Glass Training
Glass Industry Review of National Occupational Standards:
QCA and SQA have approved a project for employers in the glass industry to review the existing standards and qualifications over the next 12 - 15 months with a view to improving productivity and competitiveness.

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PPG Named a GM Supplier of the Year   
PPG Industries has been named a Supplier of the Year by General Motors for its superior performance, quality, service, technology and value in supplying coatings and glass for GM operations worldwide during 2001.
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Connect 2 – National Growth
Larger premises, greater stock holding, better location and a range of new products. That’s the result of a move to new premises, located at Tame Valley Trading Estate, for the Tamworth branch of Connect 2 National Plastics.
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Survey Shows Firms Seek Clarity on Greenhouse Gas Emissions
An industry survey shows that firms are seeking clarity about how to demonstrate reduction of emissions of the 'greenhouse gases' blamed for global warming.
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SAINT-GOBAIN TO LAUNCH FIRST INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT IN RUSSIA
New Isover glass wool manufacturing plant to start production in 2003 in the Moscow area.
Saint-Gobain Group’s Insulation division has decided to invest in glass wool manufacturing in Russia to support its strong sales growth in this region.

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THE GL@ZINE ISSUE 25 21 May 2002

Pilks shares drop 6% as Scaroni quits to head up Italian state owned electricity giant Enel
The Board of Pilkington plc has announced its intention to appoint Stuart Chambers, Pilkington Executive Director and President of Building Products Worldwide, as Group Chief Executive following Monday's announcement by the Italian Treasury Ministry that it is proposing to appoint Paolo Scaroni to the Board of Enel, Italy's largest integrated electricity group.

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Millgate Conservatories Claims Lincolnshire Top Slot
Veka systems installer Millgate Conservatories claims to be Lincolnshire's top conservatory installer, despite the company's strict policy of not employing commission-only sales consultants. Although it avoids the home improvement industry's favoured route to market, Millgate enjoys sales success in the home improvement market, in addition to being the approved installer for several major house builders.
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Goliath Goes on Growing 15 Years On
Staffordshire-based Goliath Group celebrated its 15th anniversary with the launch of a new £30,000 showroom extension - and an open day that set two lucky visitors on their way to Paris. The long-standing Veka fabricator has grown since 1987 from a modest domestic operation into a home improvements group employing more than 100 local people.
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FAECF Prepares Practical Implementation of European Perspectives for the Fenestration Industry
The FAECF Management Council and the FAECF EuroClub met during the CONECO construction fair in Bratislava on 8 and 9 April. FAECF is the European federation of the national window and curtain walling associations. In addition to regular business issues, the meetings focused on the future CE-marking of windows and curtain walling, and the state of play of the markets of East and Central Europe.
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New Brand, Bright Future for ARP
Aluminium Roofline Products (ARP) Ltd - UK manufacturer of aluminium guttering and other roofiine solutions - has launched a new brand image to match its new identity following the consolidation of the Mustang, Alstock and Aluminium Roofline Products brands under the ARP banner. The company has also re-structured the roles of its sales team members to offer a broader knowledge of all three product ranges to all regions of the UK and Ireland.
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The Association of Composite Door Manufacturers
The Association of Composite Door Manufacturers will be launched at Interbuild on 11th June at 10am in the Griffin Suite 11. The ACDM is a new trade association that has been formed to represent UK manufacturers of composite doors and ensure that specifiers receive the highest standards of construction, materials and customer service from its members.
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Partnering Does It Again for Anglian….
Anglian Building Products has recently completed a replacement window programme, as part of a Partnering arrangement with Tonbridge & Malling Housing Association. The Best Value encompassing agreement saw approximately 6000 properties re-windowed in less than six years as part of a Large Scale Voluntary Transfer.
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Smart Glasses Order Own Refills
A Japanese electronics company has developed drinking glasses which signal when they are almost empty so that table staff know when to bring a refill. The technology is an adaptation of the tagging systems used to try to stop people stealing from shops.
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Glass Training's AGM
Come along to our AGM this year and meet key figures in our industry.The meeting will be held at the Moat House, Sheffield on Wednesday 24th July 2002. This year we will be producing a crystal gift for all those that attend, by prior agreement, to celebrate 20 years of Glass Training Limited. Paul Jagger, Regional Secretary for the TUC has agreed to speak at the AGM.
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Stained Glass Windows of Marien Kirche in Frankfurt-on-Oder Will be Returned to Germany
Russian Minister of Culture Mikhail Shvydkoy and State German Minister Julian Nida-Rumellin have signed a number of agreements. In particular, the parties have reached an agreement to transfer the ownership for stained glass windows, which were brought to the USSR in 1945 and have been stored in Hermitage, to Marien Kirche (a church in Frankfurt-on-Oder).
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GAI and ABHM in Merger Talks
The Guild of Architectural Ironmongers and the Association of Builders Hardware Manufacturers have entered into discussions about a possible merger. Two negotiating teams, one from each organisation, have been meeting to establish the viability of such a move.
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PPG Automotive Flat Glass Plant Recognized for Environmental Leadership By EPA
PPG Industries automotive flat glass plant here has been named member of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) program designed to reward facilities whose performance extends beyond compliance with environmental laws.
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Alcoa Board Creates Public Issues Committee; Committee, Chaired by Dr. Judith Gueron, to Oversee Alcoa's Environmental and Social Responsibility Performance
Alcoa Inc. announced last week that its Board of Directors has formed a Public Issues Committee that will work with management to oversee the company's environmental and social responsibility performance. The new Board committee, to be chaired by Dr. Judith Gueron, President of Manpower Demonstration Research Company and an Alcoa director since 1988, will help the company address a range of sustainability and corporate social responsibility opportunities.
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THE GL@ZINE ISSUE 24 14 May 2002

Laird Group - AGM Statement
Nigel Keen, Laird Group Chairman, said: 'Before putting the resolution to the meeting I would like to highlight some of the points I made in my Statement in the 2001 Annual Report and Accounts and to say a few words about current trading.

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Foothold in America hits Ultraframe's profit, but outlook is sunny
Ultraframe believes the dry weather and the continuing UK home improvement boom is behind a surge in half-year sales.
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Kyro's Profit Doubled During January-March 2002
The net sales of Kyro Group for the period January-March was EUR 31.6 (36.1) million and the operating profit was EUR 3.3 (4.1) million, or 11 (11)% of the net sales.
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Roof Lock - The Demand Starts Now
A new company in the conservatory industry, which claims a unique first product, is currently building a UK network of accredited distributors before production has even begun.
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Dupont's Benedictus Award won by Romantic Summer Pavilion in Burgundy, France
In the mid 1990s, an eighteenth-century folly near Avalon, in the Burgundy region of France, was converted into a small summer residence for a Dutch neurologist and his wife, an art historian. Architect Dirk Jan Postel of Rotterdam was retained to build a laminated glass skylight for the converted folly in 1997.
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Glass Processing Machinery at Promac
Promac Glass Machinery has introduced Glass Processing machinery to complement its range of Cutting and Insulating Glass equipment, which includes Horizontal Washing and Shape Glass Cutting, (available with edge deletion if required).
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Successful Fire Door Seminar to be Repeated
BM TRADA Certification and Chiltern lnternational Fire will stage a one-day seminar, Timber Fire Doors Explained, on 30" May 2002.
[More on this Story]

GAI and ABHM in Merger Talks
The Guild of Architectural Ironmongers and the Association of Builders Hardware Manufacturers have entered into discussions about a possible merger.
[More on this Story]

Conservatory Companies Wound Up
Two Lancashire companies which sold substandard conservatories have been wound up in the High Court. An associated company which supplied the machinery used to build the conservatories was also wound up.
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MPH aims for the Trade market
MPH Windows, supplier of PVCu products, has built a reputation in the domestic and new build markets, and is set to do the same in the Trade market.
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Glaverbel Group: Expansion in Spain in the Field of Rear-View Mirrors
Through the intermediary of its Spanish network, the Glaverbel Group has just acquired an 85% stake in the Guardiola company, which specialises in producing mirrors for cars (interior and exterior mirrors, including sunvisor mirrors).
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Public Sector Demand Boosts the Commercial Glazing Market!
'2001 saw the British Commercial Glazing Market reach £1.79 billion.' says Palmer in this latest report on the Commercial Glazing Markets.
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The Industry Takes up Mila's Trinity Challenge
The Trinity Challenge, the triple pronged sporting event that has become the traditional sporting occasion for the UK window, door and conservatory industry, has again received overwhelming support.
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Nippon Sheet Glass Cuts FY01 Group Net Outlook to Y1 Billion Loss 
Nippon Sheet Glass Co. has revised down its profit forecast for the year ended March 31 due to slimmer profits on its information technology products and poor earnings at subsidiaries.
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PPG Enhanced Performance Glazing Launched as Standard On Lincoln Aviator
Inside and out, the front door windows on the new Lincoln Aviator will be like no other on any OEM-made North American vehicle. Designed and produced by PPG Industries the laminated front door windows offer enhanced security from the outside and a quieter ride inside.
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Titon Profits Fall Due to Impact of Terrorism
Titon Holdings has posted reduced half-year profits. Interim pre-tax profits fell by 17.8% to £702,000. This was mainly due to the US slowdown following the September 11 attacks.
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Schott Opens Processing Factory in China
German-based technology company Schott Glas has opened a modern processing plant for flat glass and CERAN® glass ceramic cooktop panels in China.

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New Door and Window Specifications in the Public Housing Sector
New information is now available from Windowbase on the Public Housing Sector. Over fourteen hundred key housing specifiers are identified by name in the April 2002 release of the Windowbase Housing Specifiers database.
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New Green Machine at Premier
Following its development of Purmelt®, a revolutionary water-based priming system for PVCu profile foiling, PVCu extrusion specialist, Premier Profiles, has invested in new laminating equipment to further increase efficiency.
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Deleted BBA Certificates from the glazing sector
A list of deleted BBA Certificates includes the following companies from the glazing sector:
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THE GL@ZINE ISSUE 23 8 May 2002

Glaverbel Group's First Quarter
Resisting the Economic Slowdown Against the background of a slowdown in the economy, the Group's performance in the first quarter of 2002 was in line with its forecasts, i.e. slightly down on the results for the corresponding period in 2001.
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Asahi Holds Over 91% of Glaverbel at the End of the Public Offer
At the end of the public offer, which took place between March 18 and April 5, 2002, Asahi Glass Co., Ltd held, directly and indirectly, 91.45% of the share capital of Glaverbel. 26,674 convertible bonds were also tendered, which represents 98.80% of the total issued.

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Annual General Meeting of Assa Abloy AB
At yesterday’s Annual General Meeting of shareholders in Assa Abloy AB, all the members of the board – Georg Ehrnrooth, Melker Schörling, Gustaf Douglas, Per-Olof Eriksson, Göran J Ehrnrooth, Carl-Henric Svanberg and Sven-Christer Nilsson – were re-elected. At the Statutory Meeting following the General Meeting, Georg Ehrnrooth was re-elected Chairman of the Board.

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Assa Abloy in Full Pursuit
Leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Going Race was an 875-mile long sprint up the American east coast. After three days of racing, ASSA ABLOY finished third, beating illbruck with only three minutes.
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FMB Backs Commons Early Day Motion (1099) to Annul Self-Certification Schemes
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has declared its support for an Early Day Motion (1099) laid by Alan Beith MP that seeks to annul Statutory Instrument 2002/440, which establishes a number of self-certification schemes, for different trades under the Building Regulations. These include the FENSA scheme for glazing

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Small Comfort, Missed Opportunity, Says FMB in Budget Response
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) says the Chancellor missed yet another opportunity to help legitimate small and medium sized building firms, and crack down on the cowboy element in last week's Budget.

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Kyro acquires Uniglass
The purchase of all shares of Uniglass Engineering Oy by KyroCorporation, as announced on 12.3.2002, has been confirmed. As of this date, the shares have been transferred to the ownership of Kyro Corporation.
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Changes at the Top; a personal announcement from Wagner MD, Peter Kinze.
I should like to announce some recent personnel changes at Wagner (GB) Ltd, concerning John Vaux, Steven Sale and Bob Hayes.

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Prowting Hopeful of Recovery After Dire 2001
Prowting's full-year profits have plummeted after a tough second-half. Its second-half losses led to pre-tax profits falling by 87% to £3.7 million. A year earlier, the housebuilder made profits of £27.5 million.

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Persimmon Eyes Strong UK Housing Market
Persimmon says it's confident the UK housing market will remain robust in 2002. The company is selling homes at prices ranging from £50,000 to more than £1.25m.
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Von Ardenne acquires Glass Coating Business of BOC Coating
BOC Coating Technology, part of BOC Edwards, announced the sale of its glass coating business to Von Ardenne Anlagentechnik GmbH, Dresden, Germany.

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PPG Reports On Quarter, Maintains Focus On Strengthening Balance Sheet   
PPG Industries first quarter net income was $34 million, or 20 cents a share, including one-time after-tax charges of $55 million, or 33 cents a share, for restructuring and $9 million, or 5 cents a share, for the cumulative effect of a required accounting change.

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PPG Chairman: Company Has Never Been Stronger
PPG Industries' quick action to reduce costs and strengthen its balance sheet in 2001 was reflected in its stock price and is recognition that 'our company has never been stronger,' Chairman and Chief Executive Office Raymond W. LeBoeuf said at the company's annual shareholders meeting last week.
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IMI plc announces preliminary results
IMI plc, the major international engineering group, has announced its preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2001:

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PVC Industry Publishes its Second Progress Report and Proves Voluntary Action Delivers
The second Voluntary Commitment progress report from the European PVC industry shows that they have been forging ahead with continuous environmental improvement and resource efficiency through a 'learning by doing' approach, strengthening the partnership within their supply chain.
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Latest Forecast by Euroconstruct: European Construction Industry can look Forward to Growth Again Next Year
Favourable omens for BAU 2003: According to expert predictions, the European construction industry will pick up speed again next year.

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Saint-Gobain Sekurit signs Marketing Alliance with Central Glass in the Automotive Glass Business
Saint-Gobain Sekurit signed an agreement last week with the Japanese glass group Central Glass to enter a marketing alliance in automotive glass business on a global basis.

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Reliant on Millenco
A proactive synergy between Birmingham fabricator Reliant Windows and hardware manufacturer Millenco has led to an exclusive supply agreement for all Reliant's door locks.

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