Growth plans included: two new float plants in South America (Brazil and Chile), expansion in China, which included a 40 percent shareholding in Guilin Pilkington Safety Glass and two new ventures for the manufacture of laminated windscreens and toughened glass; expansion in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Poland and the purchase in New Zealand of building and automotive glass suppliers, Smith and Smith Glass.
Major disposals of non-core businesses continued with the sale of the Pilkington Insulation business to the Owens Corning Fiberglas Corporation.