[N American] Fibreglass Production Increases As Automakers Find New Uses

Research undertaken by PPG Industries has revealed that North American automobile makers used 56% more fibreglass in 1997 than they did at the start of the decade. According to PPG, the increase is due to automobile manufacturers seeking new materials to build cars that are lighter, cost less and are visually appealing. In 1997, 160m kg of fibreglass reinforcements for plastic were consumed for auto applications, compared with only 102m kg in 1990. The total for 1998 is expected to be around 171m kg, representing a 7% increase. Further, preliminary estimates show an additional growth of 19% by 2000.