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O-I Announces Significant Investment in France

More than €60 mio Capacity Expansion in Gironcourt

20. March 2019
O-I recently launched O-I : EXPRESSIONS, a direct-to-glass digital printing technology offering customization at speed, value and flexible volumes.
O-I recently launched O-I : EXPRESSIONS, a direct-to-glass digital printing technology offering customization at speed, value and flexible volumes. [Source: Owens-Illinois, Inc.]

Owens-Illinois, Inc. is announcing a major investment to expand capacity at its Gironcourt, France, glass plant. The commitment of more than €60 mio represents the single largest investment by O-I in Europe in the last 20 years and is supported by long-term customer agreements.

As part of the plan, a new furnace will be added in 2020, bringing the total number of furnaces in Gironcourt to three. In addition, one of the existing furnaces will be upgraded. Once both projects are complete, the plant will be able to produce approximately 1.9 billion incremental glass containers per year. The expansion at Gironcourt will focus on the growing premium beer segment which is highly differentiated and uses unique bottle shapes to build strong, premium brand equity.

“Our investment into the Gironcourt plant is a reflection of the ongoing trend towards sustainable glass packaging,” said Vitaliano Torno, President, O-I Europe. “Consumers are increasingly demanding sustainable and recyclable packaging solutions, and O-I makes what matters to them. We are very pleased to support the growth of our customers in line with this trend.”

“O-I’s commitment to Gironcourt is great news for the region and for France,” said Francois Pierrot, Country Group Executive Southwest Europe. “We will initially create approximately 60 new jobs and the investment will strengthen Gironcourt as a production location for years to come. In addition, it will bolster the circular economy in the region as we intend to utilize recycled glass and other raw materials from the area. We will recruit people who are passionate about glass and have the desire to become master glass-makers producing iconic and sustainable packaging that is recognized all over the world,” concluded Pierrot

The €60 mio investment in Gironcourt supporting organic growth follows the recent transaction to acquire a nearly 50 percent interest in Empresas Comegua S.A., the leading manufacturer of glass containers for the Central American and Caribbean markets, an inorganic growth investment that connects the Company’s footprint across the Americas – extending from Canada to Argentina.

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