Glaston Corporation, a global firm developing glass processing technology for architectural, solar, appliance and automotive applications headquartered in Finland, said it has sold its pre-processing machines business to the local management of Glaston Italy.

"Glaston has a clear strategy and direction, which is sustainable and profitable growth. The company’s expertise is strongest in heat treatment technology," stated Arto Metsänen, the president and CEO of Glaston Corporation.

"We have successfully developed this segment by launching machines which represent the most advanced technology and which have clearly fulfilled customers’ needs. The agreement signed today means that we can in future focus all of our resources on areas where we are already strong in terms of both expertise and profitability," he noted.

Glaston had acquired the Italian company Z. Bavelloni Immobiliare, which specialised in pre-processing operations, in 2003.

Pre-processing operations include the manufacturing and servicing of glass pre-processing machines. These machines are reported as part of the machines segment and their servicing as part of the services segment.

The sale and manufacturing of tools related to pre-processing operations will remain in Glaston. The company said it will continue to distribute and service pre-processing machines in areas agreed with the buyers.

The sale is expected to be finalised by the end of next month.

Glaston Italy has around 140 employees, of whom around 40 work in tool operations.-TradeArabia News Service