During a visit to Webasto's site in Grevenmacher on 3 February, the Minister of the Economy Franz Fayot confirmed the financial support of the Ministry of Economy to Webasto Luxembourg SA for the implementation of a new, more environmentally friendly production line for high-tech glass for car roofs and windscreens, which will replace part of the current equipment.
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(from l. to r.) Jean-Pierre Aguirre, plant manager Webasto Luxembourg; Franz Fayot, Minister of the Economy
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(from l. to r.) Franz Fayot, Minister of the Economy; Jean-Pierre Aguirre, plant manager Webasto Luxembourg
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(from l. to r.) Jean-Pierre Aguirre, plant manager Webasto Luxembourg; Franz Fayot, Minister of the Economy
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(from l. to r.) Christophe Jacob, senior operator, Webasto Luxembourg; Franz Fayot, Minister of the Economy
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Group photo
The new production line, which is expected to be operational by the end of 2024, will enable the company to make significant energy savings and thus reduce its CO2 emissions. The Ministry of the Economy is supporting this investment as part of its environmental aid programme. The company aims to make Grevenmacher the global competence centre for glass. It will enable Webasto to compete in the growing target market for glass roofs for electric and self-driving cars and to introduce high-tech features into automotive glazing.
Webasto, a German company with headquarters in Stockdorf near Munich, is one of the world's 100 largest automotive suppliers with nearly 15,700 employees at more than 50 locations, including the first glass production site in Grevenmacher, which was acquired in August 2022. The group offers a wide range of roofing, heating and cooling systems for different types of vehicles and is constantly adapting to new developments in the automotive market, particularly with regard to Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving.
Founded in February 1992 by the American company Guardian Industries Corp., the Grevenmacher production site was acquired in 2014 by the Japanese group Central-Glass CO. and was known as Carlex Glass Luxembourg before being taken over by Webasto. The site has been operating under the name Webasto Luxembourg SA since August 2022 and currently employs around 500 people. The main activity is the development and production of innovative automotive glazing. Webasto Luxembourg also has a research and development unit dedicated to glass production and manufacturing methods.
During his visit, Minister of the Economy Franz Fayot said: "With this investment, Webasto confirms its commitment to the Luxembourg site and its confidence in the future. The Luxembourg unit in Grevenmacher plays a key role in the development of the group's R&D and engineering activities in the glass sector. This investment is perfectly in line with our economic development policy, which aims to apply sustainable technologies in Industry 4.0."
"The expansion of our glass production capacity opens up many new opportunities for the Webasto Group, for example in the areas of switchable glazing, ambient lighting or photovoltaics. These features are no longer limited to the luxury car segment, but are increasingly being demanded in small and medium-sized volume vehicles. In addition, "high-tech glass" is playing an increasingly important role in autonomous cars, for which we have also developed the roof sensor module. As a result, Webasto is already offering suitable roof systems for the electric vehicles of the future," says Jan Henning Mehlfeldt, the Webasto board member responsible for the group's roof business.
Press release by the Ministry of the Economy