Guardian
Industries to Build Tech Center
$5 Million Facility will develop glass
coatings that will cool, hold heat
Guardian Industries
Corp., the world's third-largest glass producer, plans to build a
$5-million science and technology center in Metro Detroit.
The 40,000-square-foot facility, likely to be built
near Guardian Industries' headquarters in Auburn Hills or in Monroe
County, will develop performance coatings to keep buildings and
vehicles cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
"The performance coatings on glass are
increasing dramatically and we intend to be at the forefront of new
technology for office buildings, residential windows and auto glass
products," said Peter S. Walters, group vice-president for
Guardian. "The center will also keep our production lines running
at near full-speed. Presently, we have to stop production to test new
products. The center will have a small production line that will
streamline things.
"We'll pick a final site in the next six weeks
and have the facility up and running some time next year."
Guardian Industries, whose chairman is William
Davidson, owner of the Detroit Pistons, had an estimated $2 billion in
revenues last year. The company, founded in 1932, got its start
building windshields for the auto industry.
The science and technology center is part of
growing trend to draw more high-tech jobs to the state, said Kathleen
McMahon, director of communication for the Michigan Economic
Development Corp. in Lansing.
"It's good to see a longtime, home-grown
company expanding in Michigan," McMahon said. "We have been
focusing on attracting more high-tech jobs to the state to diversify
and boost our economy."
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