GMP Acquires Solar Seal Assets; Invests Additional Capital of Equipment in Hawkins
November 5, 2012

by Kaitlan Mitchell, kmitchell@glass.com

Consolidated Glass Holdings Inc. (CGH), an affiliate company of Grey Mountain Partners (GMP), has announced its recent asset acquisition of Solar Seal of South Easton, Mass., also referred to as Shaw Glass Co. As a Guardian Select Fabricator and a PPG Certified Fabricator, Solar Seal designs and manufactures fabricated architectural glass products for architects and glazing contractors. The Boston-based company specializes in insulating and tempered glass and is a Guardian Select Fabricator and a PPG Certified Fabricator.

"CGH believes there are many synergies Solar Seal has with our family of companies," says Carole Kagiyama, director of marketing for CGH in an exclusive interview with USGNN.com/ USGlass magazine. "Solar Seal has a strong reputation for product quality and exceptional service, and by becoming part of the CGH family, Solar Seal will be able to capitalize on the management support of CGH and investment capital of GMP to allow for future growth and direction, and be able to focus on what they do best - design, manufacturing of product and servicing of customer needs, " she says.

GMP vice president Beth Lesniak concurs. "The acquisition presents substantial opportunity to continue to grow our presence in the architectural glass market, and we plan to further invest in the future of CGH through strategic acquisitions," she says.

"We are delighted to join the CGH family. We remain dedicated to providing our customers with exceptional products and customer service as we share the breadth of the CGH portfolio to expand our capabilities," says Solar Seal president Rick Shaw in a release issued today.

The news of this acquisition comes on the heels of the announcement by GMP that it will be investing further in Hawkins Architectural Products of Stafford, Va. Hawkins will receive an estimated $100,000 worth of equipment for its insulating glass line.

The investment is expected to create an additional 25 jobs and establish a second shift at the plant . To date, approximately 45 people work at the 40,000-square-foot facility.

Hawkins, a fabricator and distributer of glass products used in commercial and residential construction, was purchased by GMP from Hawkins Glass Wholesalers LLC earlier this year. The company continues to lease the facility from the previous owner.

"It's a part of our package for growing," says Don Powers branch manager of Hawkins. "This will upgrade our insulating line significantly and modernize it as well. We're looking to add this equipment in the first quarter of 2013. We'll also be looking to upgrade our software. So overall we'll probably be looking at $200,000 to $250,000 investment into the company."