AGC, one of the leading manufacturers of glass, chemicals and high-tech materials, has conducted a cornerstone-laying ceremony in Guaratinguetá, São Paulo State, Brazil, to commemorate the start of construction on its first manufacturing facility in the country.

The facility in Guaratinguetá, which is scheduled to begin operations in 2013, will manufacture architectural and automotive glass. By 2016, the facility is expected to have a workforce of approximately 500 people and the production capacity is expected to reach 220,000 tons of construction glass per year. The facility is also expected to produce automotive glass for 500,000 vehicles per year by 2016.

AGC President and Chief Executive Officer, Kazuhiko Ishimura, said: “Today marks an important day that the AGC Group takes its first step of a long and prosperous journey it will take together with the Brazilian people.”