Emhart Glass To Benefit From Company Acquisition

Emhart Glass, 1140 Sullivan St., makes equipment used by the "hot" and "cold" ends of the glass-making industry.



The business cycle for hot-end products -- used to heat and shape the molten glass -- runs about six to 10 years.



A customer buys a piece of machinery and doesn't plan on replacing it for another decade.



The inspection equipment used on the cold end, after the glass containers are manufactured, is generally replaced at a quicker pace as technology marches on.



In Elmira, Emhart produces "cold end" machines used to inspect glass containers for defects.



Emhart is based in Switzerland and operates three facilities in North America -- Elmira, Enfield, Conn., and Owensville, Mo. -- and several others in Europe and Asia.



Elmira, however, is the only location that turns out inspection equipment for the company.



The deal, reportedly for about $14 million, closed on March 20 and brings ICS Inex Inspection Systems of Clearwater, Fla., into the Emhart family.



The Elmira division, renamed Emhart Glass Cold End after a company restructuring last year, is now called Emhart Inex and will continue as Emhart's only source of glass-making inspection equipment.