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Saint-Gobain’s high-performance and construction products range from photovoltaic glass to industrial ceramic components and more. Total net sales (for all business segments) in 2015 reached €39.6 billion (approximately $44.3 billion), up from 2014’s €38.3 billion (~ $42.8 billion); organic growth was essentially flat. Saint-Gobain is organized in three business sectors: Iovative Materials (including Flat Glass and High-Performance Materials), which represented 24% of overall sales in 2015; Construction Products (Interior Solutions and Exterior Solutions), 28%; and Building Distribution, 48%. The Flat Glass business increased its sales over 5% to reach €5.2 billion (~ $5.8 billion) in 2015. Strength in the automotive market helped offset weak construction demand in Western Europe. The High-Performance Materials business produces ceramic materials (including abrasives and crystals), glass textiles and performance polymers. Sales for the division dipped 1% in 2015 to €4.5 billion (~ $5.0 billion).

Over 170,000 people work for Saint-Gobain around the world. Within the Iovative Materials Group, the Flat Glass division employs 32,000 people in 42 countries, while High-Performance Materials employs 27,000 people in 45 countries.

Saint-Gobain ranks 126 (out of 300) on the Intellectual Property Owners Association’s (IPO) aual listing of granted U.S. patents, with 274 patents gained in 2015;1 globally, the company filed almost 350 new patents last year. In addition, for the fifth consecutive year, Thompson Reuters ranked Saint-Gobain as one of the 100 most iovative companies worldwide. The company reports that it spent €434 million (~ $484.8 million) on R&D in 2015, an increase of nearly 8% over 2014.

At its recent aual general meeting, Saint-Gobain unveiled a new logo. A new interpretation of the bridge symbol that has represented the group for more than 40 years, the logo incorporates a vibrant skyline illustrating the group’s brand territory of “living places.” According to the company, this logo reflects an updated positioning for the brand, based around its promise to design, manufacture, and distribute materials that improve the well-being of both individuals and society as a whole.

The shift in brand positioning underlines the group’s commitment to creating a stronger coection with the general public. Better informed through digital media, consumers play an increasingly important role in specifying the products that are used in their projects. Saint-Gobain wants to explain how its materials and solutions contribute to everyday life through its brand values: expertise in materials; a culture of iovation; an understanding of customer needs; and an approach based on opeess and responsibility.

“We need to be more visible to end consumers,” said Pierre-André de Chalendar, chairman and CEO. “Today’s strong brands demonstrate the value they bring to people. I want everyone to know what Saint-Gobain stands for, and the role our brands play in daily life.”

In October 2015, Saint-Gobain opened its new North American corporate headquarters, located in Malvern, Pa. The 320,000-sq-ft campus, situated on 65 acres, underwent an 18-month renovation to transform the long-dormant site into a showcase for Saint-Gobain and its North American construction materials subsidiary, CertainTeed Corp. The new headquarters received LEED Platinum certification for both commercial interiors and core and shell, as established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). The headquarters’ sustainable design places equal value on environmental sustainability, employee well-being and comfort.

Source: aual report, company website, press releases