Glaston Group has received four orders for new Automotive pre-processing Champ Evo lines from a customer in China. The orders total approximately $2.95 million and are booked in the company’s Q3/2022 and Q4/2022 order books.
In June, Glaston announced its plan to establish the production of automotive pre-processing equipment for standard products at the company’s factory in Tianjin, China.
“The plan is in line with Glaston’s strategic focus to grow its business in China and improve operational efficiency,” according to the release. “The aim is to serve customers in the largest automotive market in the world with locally produced machines.”
Products sold include Glaston Automotive Technology’s standard CHAMP EVO pre-processing lines to cut, grind and in some cases drill automotive glass. That includes automotive glass for windshields, sidelites, backlites and sunroofs.
Activities for ramping up production, enhancing the product-specific production skills and setting up a local automotive supply chain network have proceeded as planned, the company continues.
Upon completion, Glaston’s factory in Tianjin will be the only Glaston location with production ranging through heat treatment, insulating glass and automotive technologies. The received orders will be the first ones to be delivered from Tianjin in 2023.
“We aim to provide locally fit products with proximity to customers in China,” says Anders Dahlblom, president and CEO of Glaston Corporation. “These orders demonstrate the viability of our strategic initiative and that customers perceive locally produced machines well.”
Production of Automotive machines in Bützberg, Switzerland will continue to serve Glaston customers outside of China. The Swiss factory will also deliver customized machines to China. The heat treatment machines for the automotive segment continue to be produced in Tampere, Finland.
