Guardian Industries Launches World's Largest Glass Coater In Bascharage

The new state-of-the-art coating facility, Guardian Luxcoating S.A., was host to His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Guardian Industries President and CEO William Davidson, Luxembourg Minister of the Economy Mr.Henri Grethen and many other officials and key customers at opening ceremonies on June 25, 2003.

The 269,000 square foot facility occupies 21 acres next to Guardian's first European float glass plant, which will supply high quality flat glass to the new sputter coater. Guardian Luxcoating will produce these high quality solar management products:

·Sun-Guard, Guardian's premier line of reflective and non-reflective coated commercial products,
·Low-E coated glass for residential applications, and
·IRR (infrared reflective) coated glass, used extensively by European auto manufacturers.

"In recent years, Guardian has committed substantial financial and human resources to develop and produce innovative, value added glass coatings for our customers," says William Davidson. "We have demonstrated that commitment with two world-class research centers, one in Europe and one in the United States, sophisticated coaters at plants around the globe, and now this highly advanced coater in Bascharage."

Guardian Industries invested more than $100 million in Luxcoating to develop a unique U-shaped coater configuration for greater efficiency, a 230-foot bridge between the two plants to facilitate raw material delivery and product shipments, a massive conveyance system, automated packing for increased quality and the capability to cut finished sizes on line. The new plant will employ about 100 people.

"This revolutionary new coater keeps Guardian at the leading edge of technology," says Ralph Gerson, executive vice president of Guardian Industries. "With ground-breaking advances in research, Guardian will continue to meet the expanding needs of its customers and to develop
products for future applications in emerging glass markets."

James Moore, managing director of Guardian Europe, along with Georges Bourscheid, managing director of Guardian's Bascharage facilities also welcomed the launch. Guardian's European operations are headquartered in Dudelange, Luxembourg. Guardian Luxcoating is part of the Guardian Industries Corp. group of companies.

Guardian Industries Corp., based in Auburn Hills, Mich., is a leading worldwide manufacturer of float glass and fabricated glass products for the commercial and residential construction industries, and one of the world's largest producers of mirrors. Guardian Automotive provides complete exterior systems to the global automotive industry and is a Tier 1, top-100 global automotive supplier.

Guardian's Building Products Group includes one of the largest manufacturers of fiberglass in the world and occupies a significant and growing position in the building materials distribution business. Guardian, its subsidiaries and affiliates employ 19,000 people and operate facilities throughout North America, Europe, South America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.