Primary glass manufacturer Saint-Gobain of France is expanding its presence in the Latin American market through construction of a new float glass production line in Mexico, its second in that country.

The facility, which will cost approximately $100 million, will be built at the Cuautla, Morelos site in the south of the country, where Saint-Gobain Vitrage already operates a float line as well as Saint-Gobain Sekurit, a plant involved in automotive glass production. Production at the new plant is scheduled to start at the end of 2006.

According to company officials, output from the new facility will be sold in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and the United States. The move was called, "a further step" in the company's growth strategy in emerging countries.

Saint-Gobain has flat glass operations in 39 countries and has been operating in Mexico since 1996. In addition to the facilities in Cuautla, which also includes operations for producing laminated glass and mirrors, the company has a plant that specializes in glass for home appliances, called Euroveder, in Queretaro.

Saint-Gobain also distributes replacement auto glass through its Autover network in Mexico.