Global glass packaging giant O-I said its new GBP 9 million (EUR 10.2 million) glass furnace for its operations in Scotland will boost productivity, while cutting energy consumption and carbon dioxide…
Global glass packaging giant O-I said its new GBP 9 million (EUR 10.2 million) glass furnace for its operations in Scotland will boost productivity, while cutting energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. The company unveiled its plans to invest in the green glass furnace – due to be operational in spring 2011 – at its plant in Alloa, Clackmannanshire, which employs over 450 people and is the leading supplier of glass packaging to the Scotch whisky industry, on 6 September 2010. The company received a GBP 1.3 million grant from the Scottish Government to support the investment, which was awarded as part of a programme run by Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International (SDI) to attract investments. We have worked closely with the management team at O-I to attract and secure this investment in new facilities at O-I“s Alloa plant and the company“s ongoing commitment to Scotland shows that the country continues to be an attractive location for international investors, said SDI interim chief executive Anne MacColl. Jorge Hernandez, Manufacturing vice-president, O-I Europe, said: Modern furnace technology gives us lower energy use, lower CO2 emissions and higher productivity. This grant enables us to enhance our service to the Scotch whisky industry and develop products which meet fresh market demands, like the manufacture of lightweight bottles for the wine industry and non-alcoholic drinks. In September 2010, the Scottish Government awarded a grant of GBP 1.95 million to Ireland-based glass packaging company Ardagh Glass, part of a GBP 16 million investment programme for the firm“s container glass manufacturing plant at Irvine, Scotland.