Fuyao signs deal with glass recycler

Fuyao Glass America has signed a 10-year agreement with Strategic Materials Inc. to recycle glass scrap for Fuyao’s Moraine plant.

The move means 10 to 12 new jobs in Moraine, Fuyao said in a release.

SMI is making a “significant investment” in construction, trucks, process equipment, and office renovation for the site, the glass producer said. Along with SMI’s investment, Fuyao has allocated 3.7 acres of its 116-acre Moraine site to SMI.

The partnership will create a “closed-loop recycling process and a truly sustainable operation for Fuyao,” Fuyao said.

Fuyao Glass America’s Moraine facility will produce 4 million original equipment manufacturer car sets as well as 4 million aftermarket glass windshields annually. The company is approaching 2,000 Moraine workers to meet that productivity objective.

SMI will process the glass and return it to Fuyao’s manufacturing process, allowing for what Fuyao called “virtually zero waste and a reduction in carbon emissions by up to thirty percent.”

“We are proud to partner with Fuyao. Through our partnership, Fuyao will operate more efficiently while also being a good corporate citizen to the local community.” Mark Nelson, SMI’s vice president of sales and supply, said in Fuyao’s release.

“We are pleased to be partnering with SMI,” John Gauthier, Fuyao Glass America president, said in the company’s announcement. “They will make a great addition to our Moraine location.”

“Fuyao and SMI are two highly revered companies,” Moraine City Manager Dave Hicks said in the release. “Having these two great companies working together in our community will be good for Moraine. This is yet another positive result of the Fuyao investment.”

Strategic Materials has nearly 50 locations in the United States and Canada.

DDN