Glaston is accelerating the implementation of its strategy for the period 2021-2025, with strategic financial and non-financial targets remaining unchanged.
The new organisation is scheduled to take effect on 1 October 2023.
Matthias Rehberger / GW
Anders Dahlblom, President and CEO of Glaston, says: "We have made good progress on our path to achieve our strategic goals by 2025. With these changes in our organisation, we will accelerate the execution of the strategy by focusing on areas where we expect additional efficiencies in operational excellence. Improving the customer experience is also an important aspect. Supported by our new ways of working, we will serve customers in architecture, mobility, solar and display glass processing as a unified glass tone. We will continue our joint innovation partnerships with customers, and we expect to accelerate the time-to-market for innovations. I am confident that we will be an even stronger team in the second part of our 2021-2025 strategy period."
See here the first impressions from the Glass Performance Days
Under the new structure, Glaston (www.glaston.net) plans to introduce two business areas (BA) instead of the previous three units: Architecture and Mobility, Display & Solar.
The Architecture BA comprises the current Heat Treatment, Flat Glass Finishing and Insulating Glass business units with three business units.
The Mobility, Display & Solar BA consists of the current Automotive and Display Glass Processing and Heat Treatment business units for the automotive, display and solar glass markets with two business units.
Glaston products will continue to be manufactured at the existing sites in Tampere (Finland), Neuhausen (Germany), Bützberg (Switzerland) and Tianjin (China).
Matthias Rehberger / GW
In addition, new global business functions such as Automation & Innovation and Procurement & Supply Chain Management (SCM) will be created. Sales and Service will continue as global functions in cooperation with the business units.
Where are the new focus areas?
The new structure aims to focus priorities and resources on accelerating life cycle sales growth and developing the service offering in the business units.
The new Automation & Innovation and Procurement & Supply Chain Management (SCM) business functions focus on improving the scalability and efficiency of Glaston's business processes as well as reducing time-to-market for development projects.
The implementation of strategic must-wins currently underway will continue, with a greater focus on group-wide cornerstone initiatives to achieve comprehensive operational excellence at Glaston.
The planned changes are based on Glaston's strategic growth plan and are not expected to include any job cuts.
Glaston aims for 10 per cent higher profitability
The restructuring is a tool to realise efficiency potential that is expected to accelerate profitability improvement towards the 10% comparable EBITA margin target by 2025.
The new personnel structure
Matthias Rehberger / GW
In connection with the planned organisational changes, the following appointments have been made to the Executive Management Group:
Miika Äppelqvist, currently SVP Heat Treatment Technologies, will be appointed SVP Architecture. Miika Äppelqvist will relocate from Finland to Neuhausen, GermanyRobert Prange, currently SVP Automotive & Display Technologies, is appointed SVP Automation & SCM and will lead the new business functions Automation & Innovation and Sourcing & Supply Chain Management.
The recruitment of the SVP for the Mobility, Display & Solar business unit is currently underway.
Dietmar Walz to leave Glaston
Glaston and Dietmar Walz, currently SVP Insulating Glass Technologies, have jointly agreed that Dietmar Walz will leave the Group at the end of September 2023.
All appointments will take effect on 1 October 2023. From then on, Glaston's Executive Management Group will consist of:
Anders Dahlblom, President & CEO
Sasu Koivumäki, Chief Sales Officer and Deputy CEO
Miika Äppelqvist, SVP Architecture
Robert Prange, SVP Automation & SCM
Artturi Mäki, SVP Services
Päivi Lindqvist, Chief Financial Officer
Kaisa Latva, General Counsel
Riikka Laitasalo, SVP People and Culture (from 1 August 2023)
Glaston at a glance
Glaston is a technology leader in the glass processing industry, providing equipment, services and solutions to the architectural, automotive, solar and display sectors. The company also supports the development of new smart glass technologies.
Matthias Rehberger
