“Azerfloat” launched the first float glass production plant in Azerbaijan

On January 18, the opening of the float glass production plant – Azerfloat, located on the territory of the Sumgayit Chemical Industrial Park (SCIP) took place. 

The event was attended by the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

The company's direct investment in the sphere, unique in its nature for the nation, amount to 100 million euros. The design and installment of the plant was managed by the German company “HORN Glass Industries” AG (with more than 135 years of experience in the installation and supply of float glass production technologies). The company also uses Italian, Finnish and Chinese technologies.

According to Emil Hasanov, the Chief Executive Director of AzerFloat, the plant will produce 90,000 tons of float glass per annum, which is equivalent to 9 million square meters of 4-mm-thick glass.

The plant produces two types of glass – transparent and tinted. The thickness of glass varies from 2 to 12 millimeters, the dimensions of the smallest sheet is 1000-1300 mm, the largest is 6000-3210 mm.

“This enterprise is the first of its kind in Azerbaijan. In addition to the high quality of our products, we also pay special attention to competitiveness in terms of price. We not only intend to supply the local market with quality products, but at the same time we plan to expand the export capabilities of Azerbaijan. We plan to export the plant's products to Russia, Georgia, Turkey and the countries of Europe and Central Asia. At the initial stage, 180 people work in our factory. More than 50% of them are residents of Sumgayit. In the future, we plan to increase the range of our products, and with this, support the country's efforts aimed at developing non-oil industries,” said Emil Hasanov.

The AzerFloat plant is the first enterprise in Azerbaijan producing float glass by thermoforming. Until now, all the demand of the nation was supplied via imports.

“Azerfloat” CJSC became a SCIP resident in December 2017. On December 15, 2017, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev visited SCIP and took part in the groundbreaking ceremony for the company’s production plant.

The SCIP was established to create favorable conditions in Azerbaijan for the development of competitive industrial production based on innovative and high technologies, support for entrepreneurship in this area, ensuring sustainable development of the non-oil sector and increasing employment in the manufacturing sector.

Park residents are exempt from paying customs duties and VAT. Also, those who are residents of the park for a period of 10 years are exempt from income tax and property tax.

In total, park residents have already invested $3.1 billion in projects.