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British-based glass maker Pilkington Plc said that demand in its key north American building products unit had weakened, while sales had also fallen in the region for its automotive unit.

In October 2001 a high precision measuring instrument, the world's largest and most precise ring laser gyroscope, officially came into service.

Nippon Sheet Glass, a large Japanese manufacturer, has increased its holding in Pilkington, the UK glass group, from 10 to 21 per cent over the past fortnight, but has ruled out mounting a full bid.

Shares in Pilkington PLC lost ground in weak midmorning trade, in the wake of a ratings downgrade from Goldman Sachs, which blamed a deteriorating earnings climate for their move, dealers said.