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3
STRATEGIC DRIVERS FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
1. Balancing the Activities to ensure the Group is resilient
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SAINT-GOBAIN
- REGISTRATION DOCUMENT 2016
investments:
emerging countries. Notably through the following
In 2016, Saint-Gobain also strengthened its positioning in
production site in Wuhan, China. This is the Group's 35th
in India. Saint-Gobain Weber inaugurated its new
presence in Qatar through a new distribution center;
plant in the country. Saint-Gobain PAM strengthened its
insulation plant in Saudi Arabia, and a plasterboard factory
the Construction Products Sector has set out a new
a new coater in Mexico has also been announced;
coater in India, as well as in a new line dedicated to
glazing has significantly invested in a new float and a new
automotive glass in the Czech Republic. An investment in
within High Performance Materials, more specifically
(India) was inaugurated.
Saint-Gobain SEFPRO, a new refractory site in Perundurai
differentiated solutions tailored to the peculiarities and
The Group’s development strategy thus allows it to offer
hot regions in China and the Middle East (PAMboo), to
constraints of local markets: from designing pipe solutions for
coming years, the Group intends to pursue its strategy of
low-cost habitats in Latin America (Brasilit roofing). In the
significant investing in high-growth countries.
DISTRIBUTION OF INDUSTRIAL ASSETS BY REGION
24%
FRANCE
26%
OTHER WESTERN EUROPE
COUNTRIES
35%
EMERGING COUNTRIES
AND ASIA
15%
NORTH AMERICA
in developed countries by focusing
Controlling capital investments
1.1.2
investments
resources on productivity
between 27% and 29% by 2018, specifically by reducing the
2018. The objective to increase the flexibility of Saint-Gobain’s
capital intensity of Flat Glass by 15 points between 2012 and
implemented by gradually refocusing the businesses on
business in response to market fluctuations is being
is the expansion of Sekurit’s Autover glass replacement
downstream activities with low capital intensity. An example
subsidiary.
intensity (the ratio of industrial assets to annual sales)
Saint-Gobain is seeking to reduce the Group’s capital
Glass Bâtiment France has also opened five logistics
Plastiques has inaugurated a new logistics base in France.
manufactures flat glass for residential and commercial
platforms. The Salaise-sur-Sanne float line in France, which
technical and environmental performance.
buildings, has been renovated and modernized to improve its
Thus, in 2016, the Group gave priority to investments in
automation, IT, productivity, and logistics. For example, PUM
Industrial investments (excluding finance lease, excluding Packaging Sector)
(in EUR million)
2016
2015
Innovative Materials
573
529
Flat glass
375
311
High-Performance Materials
198
218
Construction Products
515
528
Interior Solutions
337
312
Exterior Solutions
178
216
Building Distribution
245
231
Other
37
58
TOTAL OF THE GROUP
1,370
1,346