France“s Saint-Gobain has confirmed the imminent acquisition, following several months of talks, of VOA-Verrerie d“Albi. VOA will become a subsidiary of the group“s packaging unit Saint-Gobain Emba…
France“s Saint-Gobain has confirmed the imminent acquisition, following several months of talks, of VOA-Verrerie d“Albi. VOA will become a subsidiary of the group“s packaging unit Saint-Gobain Emballage, a change which would not affect its legal identity. VOA“s company name and brand name will both remain. In Zhanjiang, southern China, Saint-Gobain Emballage has just formed a joint venture to manufacture, with the help of Saint-Gobain technology, bottles and jars for the Chinese market. Saint-Gobain will hold 70% of the capital of the new company, Zhanjiang Saint Hua Glass Container Limited, and its partner, Guangdong Zhanjiang Glass Factory, a Chinese state-owned company, the remaining 30%. Initial annual capacity at the plant will be in the region of 200-300 million bottles and jars. According to Saint-Gobain, food and beverage multinationals which are beginning to move into China, in particular into the Guangdong province, are having problems finding the quality levels they require from local glass container manufacturers. The new joint venture hopes to satisfy the demands of these customers.