30 July 1998: ACI of Australia hopes to satisfy demand from small winemakers for more innovative coloured and shaped glass bottles by following a trans-Tasman production strategy that uses new colouri…
30 July 1998: ACI of Australia hopes to satisfy demand from small winemakers for more innovative coloured and shaped glass bottles by following a trans-Tasman production strategy that uses new colouring technology, according to recent press reports. ACI, which was taken over by US glass giant Owens-Illinois for A$ 5 billion earlier this year, now produces a coloured bottle for the New Zealand Montana Azure Bay label from a plant which can custom design colours to winemakers“ exact specifications. The plant, called a colourant forehearth and costing A$ 3 million, will open up glass possibilities for other winemakers in Australia and New Zealand, ACI spokesman Peter Hansen said. “Different shades of the colours most used in the wine industry – green, amber and flint – will be available,” he said. “The variety of colours is infinite in terms of depth. We have started off with the Montana wine but the colouring opportunities will be available to Australian winemakers in due course,” Hansen added. The upgraded plant is also expected to give the company greater flexibility to provide shorter runs for smaller wine companies and it is positioned to service the greater cooperation between Australian and New Zealand winemakers. ACI, which was taken over when former parent BTR decided to divest its non-core engineering assets, has a monopoly in glassmaking in Australia. Reports say that it has tried to be more responsive to industry demands, since it was criticized in a report by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for failure to provide acceptable pricing and product variety to the fast-growing wine industry. ACI has also set up a wine bottle coating plant in Adelaide to provide wine bottles with a specified sheen or lustre.