Press

For the third year in a row, Saint-Gobain has been certified Top Employer Global. It is one of 13 companies worldwide to have received this certification label. The Top Employer Institute, an independent organization that awards this label, referred specifically to the openness and mobility between the company’s businesses, HR innovation, the Group’s learning organization and Saint-Gobain’s Attitudes*. This year, 31 countries in which Saint-Gobain operates were labeled, three more than in 2017. The Group also saw its certifications “Top Employer Europe”, “Top Employer North America” and “Top Employer Asia-Pacific” renewed, and was also awarded the “Latin America” certification for the first time.

Frank Bielfeld, Chief Operating Officer and Director Sales of Saint-Gobain Building Distribution Deutschland GmbH, is leaving the company. The company's management team will be strengthened by Timo Kirstein, who will take over the position of Managing Director Heavy Building Materials for the business areas Berlin/Brandenburg and Central Germany.

Saint-Gobain has signed a share purchase agreement to acquire 100% of the equity capital of Kirson, a major actor on the European laid scrim market. Founded in 1963, and located in Bavaria, Germany, Kirson makes reinforcement scrim and combination products of scrim and nonwoven fabrics. These solutions primarily serve the waterproofing roofing markets as well as floor coverings and construction panels. In 2016, Kirson’s revenues reached 27 million euros.

On January 20, 2017, Saint-Gobain signed the contracts for the acquisition of the North Rhine-Westphalian plant in Augustdorf (Germany) from Teuto-Glasveredelung GmbH & Co.KG. This facility produces high-quality insulating glasses. The purchase is planned to be completed in March of this year, subject to approval by the responsible authorities.