Vitro Will Supply Glass to the The Most Important Events Forum in Latin America

MAX, Constructora de Arenas y Parques, S.A. de C.V., promoted the construction of this Mexican icon building, with capacity for up to 17,500 seats, 142 luxury suites, two restaurants with capacity for up to 155 people, several bars with close circuit TV, large parking lots and direct access entrances, as well as an innovative system of temporary seats to host an additional 3,500 people.

The Monterrey Arena, which is located in the Fundidora Park, the host of the Monterrey Grand Prix race track, will have an area of 45,000 square meters and will be completed this winter. It will be unique from other Latin American arenas because it will be totally closed - with a controlled environment and lighting system - and capable of hosting different types of events, such as bull fights, motocross races, boxing, basketball games, tennis matches, hockey, music concerts and theater, among others.

Another feature that will make it special is the Arena's central electronic candle with giant, high-definition TV screens and a sound system comparable to those in the best U.S. arenas.

Jaime Visconti, President of Soluciones Integrales en Cristal S.A de C.V. (SICSA), the company in charge of the Arena's glazing, said, "the façade's mirrored glass will provide the distinctive, innovative and modern touch the building needed from the very beginning - in line with the services and inside facilities. When we consider the glass' thermal and acoustic properties, I would say the Monterrey Arena is incomparable with other forums."

SICSA has been dedicated for 25 years to serve residential and commercial glazing markets for the northern states of Chihuahua, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas in Mexico.

"Vitro will always play a part in these icon buildings, in Mexico and the countries in which we operate, because of our continued focus on customer needs," said Fernando Flores, President of Flat Glass.

"Vitro's participation in the construction of icon buildings such as the Monterrey Arena reinforces our decision to launch a new line of double glazing products by month’s end," added Adrian Sada Cueva, responsible for Flat Glass' Value-Added Products area.

On April 30th, the Value-Added Products area (VAP) had processed close to 400,000 square meters of glass to meet growing market demand.

VAP is part of Vitro's Flat Glass business unit, which is dedicated to the manufacture, fabrication and sale of glass for the construction and automotive markets. With annual sales of US$1.1 billion in 2002, Flat Glass accounted for 47 percent of Vitro's consolidated annual sale.