Vitro invested in a coatings plant
Capital expenditure (Capex) of Vitro in 2022 was US$152 million, mainly for the construction of its first state-of-the-art coatings plant in Mexicali, Baja California.
The plant will enable Vitro to supply solar control products more efficiently in Mexico and the West Coast of the United States.
Part of the investments were directed to the construction of Kiln 4 of the Glass Containers business, which will be used to meet the growing needs of the Perfumery and Liquor industries.
In addition, the Glass Containers business upgraded two production lines with new IS machines, acquired two new automatic decorating machines and began operating an additional painting line.
While Vitro’s consolidated net sales were US$2.352 billion, a year-on-year increase of 20.2%, its net income was US$17 million, compared to a loss of US$107 million in 2021.
As of December 31, 2022, the Flat Glass segment’s total assets amounted to US$2.437 billion.
These assets include balances with related parties, which are eliminated in Vitro’s consolidation process.
Among the main assets are nine float glass furnaces, six coaters (glass coating), 16 automotive plants: 11 manufacturing plants and five value-added satellite plants.
Vitro
The company operates nine float glass furnaces, of which seven are located in the United States; two in Carlisle, Pennsylvania; two furnaces in Wichita Falls, Texas, one in Meadville, Pennsylvania, and one in Fresno, California.
The company also has three kilns in Mexico: two in Garcia, Nuevo Leon and one in Mexicali, Baja California.
In Coaters (glass coating) equipment, the company operates one in Garcia, Nuevo Leon, two in Wichita Falls, Texas, one in Salem, Oregon, and two in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
For automotive glass manufacturing, the company operates eleven manufacturing plants: eight for the OEM market, located four in Mexico, three in the United States and one in Poland, and three plants for the aftermarket, located two in Mexico and one in Colombia.
Most of the float glass required as raw material for automotive glass manufacturing is produced internally through two of its float glass furnaces, located in Meadville, Pennsylvania, and Garcia, Nuevo Leon.
