Saint Gobain (Paris / France; www.saintgobain.com) has taken over full control of Freeglass (Schwaikheim / Germany; www.freeglass.de) for an undisclosed sum from its former 50:50 joint venture partner Schefenacker (Portchester / UK; www.schefenacker.com). Founded in 2001, Freeglass had sales of around EUR 27m and 130 employees in 2006. The deal is subject to approval by German cartel authorities.

The company founded by a Saint Gobain German affiliate and the former German-based Schefenacker developed the scratch-resistant coated polycarbonate for the Smart “ForTwo” model, using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition or wetcoats. It now claims to be world’s leading manufacturer of – primarily fixed – plastic automotive windows, as well as panorama roofs. Saint Gobain said the Freeglass portfolio will “increasingly supplement” its own, and it plans to develop “many more designer plastic windows.”