Date: 5 May 2015
Since construction started on the facility in November, 2013, the company has been working tirelessly to begin production of OcuMatte, its acid-etched product. “We are very excited to have the plant up and running here in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula” said Steve Williams, President & CEO, D.A. Glass America.
The facility, located in the Houghton County Airpark in Calumet, is the only facility in the United States that is in full production of acid-etched glass. OcuMatte is produced in a vertical position, which is a clean and efficient process and allows for single and double-sided etching. The modification of the glass is done without the use of rollers, sandblasters or lasers, making it much more durable and consistent. .jpg)
D.A. Glass America has a sister company in Poland, DA Glass, which they will work hand-in-hand with to cover a customer base in North America and Europe. “The Polish plant and laboratory have been producing glass like this since 1989 and we are very fortunate to have them working with us in production, research and development,” said Williams. Although they are separate companies, they will operate as partners in many aspects of the work.
OcuMatte is available in a variety of sizes, up to 96” x 130”, and thicknesses up to ¾”. The matte image and its opacity are adjustable depending on the desired application for the glass. The production process and equipment used for OcuMatte and future products are proprietary intellectual property of D.A. Glass America. Glass parameters are precisely determined and controlled by the most modern equipment in the world.
Because of the domestic location and this unique process, the sales team at D.A. Glass America is excited about being competitive with price and quality in entering the market. “We have a great product and our prices are competitive. Our personal service and flexibility will help to set us apart”, said Brad Aldrich, Sales & Marketing Manager. OcuMatte is available by the case or truckload quantity throughout the United States immediately.
The Calumet plant looks to hire upwards of 50 new employees here in Houghton County in the near future. Williams says he is eager to create jobs in the area and that the plant will run 24 hours a day in its full operation. Other products to launch are MiMatte, which includes acid-etched patterns and custom products, and VistaMax, which includes anti-reflective and non-glare products. All of the products that will come from the Calumet plant will be produced using a chemical etching process.
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