Vitro Adjusts Auto Glass Pricing in Light of “Dramatic Increases;” Has Taken Steps to Increase Efficiency in Light of Growing Demand
June 16, 2010

Vitro announced yesterday that it is adjusting its auto glass pricing immediately, as it faces “dramatic increases which severely impact [its] cost and which can no longer be absorbed.” The announcement was made by Jesus Zubiria Luque, AGR business director for the Mexico-based company.

“Fuel and energy prices have driven raw materials related to automotive glass manufacturing to unprecedented heights as well as impacted our manufacturing process and logistics costs incurred in order to deliver our products,” writes Luque. “Even though we have implemented internal cost reduction efforts, the current price levels are no longer sustainable under current industry conditions.”

The company says its pricing adjustments will be “applied selectively based on different variables” and that pricing lists will be released in the coming days.

The announcement comes amidst similar price increases from both Pittsburgh Glass Works (CLICK HERE for story) and Pilkington North America (CLICK HERE for story) in the last few weeks.

Juan Carlos Rivas, who handles logistics, purchasing and exports for Vitro Automotive, told glassBYTEs.com™/AGRR magazine the company has seen an increase in demand for both OE and aftermarket glass.

“This is causing us some problems in order to get glass enough to cover our customers’ demand,” he says. “Yet, we see this issue as an opportunity for us to improve our production process making them more efficient (and we’re doing it!).”

Rivas says the company is “implementing a series of measures to improve [its] quality and therefore [its] efficiency.”

“We also are opening a couple of furnaces (one for tempered and one for laminated parts) to increase our production volumes and to keep fulfilling our customers’ requirements,” he adds.

Are you seeing any shortage of auto glass in your area? If so, please contact glassBYTEs.com™ editor Penny Stacey by e-mail to pstacey@glass.com or by phone at 540/720-5584, ext. 148.

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