Optimism at glasstec 2014 tangible at the Kuraray stand

A total of 1,217 exhibitors were delighted with the roughly 43,000 trade visitors over the four days./font>

"There has been a definite improvement in the mood at this fair over previous years. The difficult times for the glass industry seem to be slowly drawing to a close. Even so, we shall still have to study the coming economic forecasts closely," said Jörg Theesfeld, Director PVB Film Business der Kuraray Europe GmbH, giving his verdict on Kuraray's participation.

Kuraray devoted plenty of space at its 120 square metre stand to meetings with customers. This was the first time since the takeover of Dupont's GLS/Vinyls activities that TROSIFOL and SentryGlas employees have appeared together at a fair stand and represented a single company. "Best of Both" is the motto that Kuraray was communicating to customers at the fair, meaning the best of both worlds. Christoph Troska explains: "We are now in the unique position of being able to offer our customers not only our comprehensive PVB product range, but established ionomer technology as well. glasstec was an important platform for publicising this new state of affairs."

This strategy went down well, as the countless meetings with customers demonstrated. Nor were there reservations about the new colleagues and not a trace of hesitancy or rivalry.

Kuraray organised two happy hours at the stand to lighten the atmosphere of the day's talks. The response was such that uninvited guests had to be politely reminded of the internal nature of the event.

Steven Clough, Global Business Manager, was also highly satisfied with the fair: "The quality of the exhibitors, the volume of trade visitors and the innovative accompanying programme once again confirmed glasstec's worldwide flagship status."

The background

On 1 June of this year, the Japanese chemical group Kuraray Co., Ltd., listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, officially took over the Glass Laminating Solutions (GLS) segment of US DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers (E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, NYSE: DD). The purchase price came to USD 543 million plus the value of all stockpiles. By taking over SentryGlas, the best-known GLS product, Kuraray is adding an important material to its product portfolio.

At DuPont, GLS achieved net sales of over USD 500 million in 2012 as a whole. GLS/Vinyls has a 600-strong workforce and six production locations in the USA, Europe and Asia that serve over 350 customers worldwide.

The effects of the acquisition on the consolidated business results of the Kuraray Group for fiscal year 2014 ending in December are currently being analysed and will be published. At glasstec 2014 in Düsseldorf, the world's leading glass fair, Kuraray Europe GmbH presented its complete product range for glass interlayers for the first time.