Saint-Gobain Competition
Now Viewing Saint-Gobain's competition in: Glass and Fiber Optic Manufacturing
Call Preparation Questions
Customers, Marketing, Pricing, Competition
In what industries are the company’s major customers? - The auto, construction, and bottling industries are major customers.
How many customers does the company have? - Many small manufacturers may have only a few large customers.
Who are the company’s main competitors? - Because of consolidation due to the economies of producing large quantities of a commodity product, only a few primary glass manufacturers exist.
Are competitors other glass companies or other product manufacturers, such as plastic or fiber optic companies? - Plastics and aluminum have displaced glass in many applications during the past 20 years, especially in the container segment of the industry.
What types of industries does the company sell to, and how have economic trends affected those industries? - Fiber optic sales are driven by the telecom industry, which has been struggling amid declining prices for services and shrinking profit margins.
Competitive Landscape
Demand comes from the construction, auto, bottling, and container industries. The profitability of individual companies depends on low-cost operations because most products are commodities that are bought based on price. Large manufacturers have large efficiencies of scale in operations, which is why the industry is so concentrated. Small manufacturers can compete effectively by producing specialty products or serving a local market. The industry is capital-intensive: annual revenue per worker is close to $200,000.
Full Industry Overview For Glass and Fiber Optic Manufacturing
Business Challenges
CRITICAL ISSUES
Dependence on Construction - Residential and commercial construction and renovation drive glass manufacturer sales of windows, mirrors, glass doors, and fiberglass insulation.
Dependence on Manufacturing - Glass demand can be affected by changes in auto, textile, electronic equipment, and container production. Autos are an important glass market, both in initial production and glass replacement. Many glass manufacturers produce containers for food, beverage, and other industries. Glass fiber production includes glass wool insulation, fiberglass, and textile glass fiber.
Industries Where Saint-Gobain Competes
- Construction
-
Construction Materials(primary)
- Aggregates, Concrete & Cement
-
Construction Materials(primary)
- Industrial Manufacturing
- Glass & Clay Product Manufacturing
- Packaging & Container Manufacturing
