O-I completes €21 million investment in Leerdam
Owens-Illinois, Inc. (O-I), has completed a €21 million investment at its Leerdam plant in the Netherlands to enhance its capabilities and better support the brewing industry in the Benelux market.
O-I’s investment includes a furnace rebuild, machine upgrades and new process and quality equipment. The company expects a 15% decrease in CO2 emissions as a result of this investment.
The furnace and new machines were inaugurated today (21st March 2013) by O-I Europe’s President, Erik Bouts, with 50 customers, employees and local officials at a ceremony at the plant.Glass International was also present.
“The investment at our Leerdam facility is part of O-I’s strategy to significantly strengthen our competitiveness and capabilities in Europe. In 2013, we will be investing €140 million in our European operations,” said Mr Bouts. “Over the next several years, we will accelerate our efforts to enhance O-I’s capabilities to better support the growing needs of our European customers for sustainable and healthy glass packaging.”
The Leerdam plant is one of three O-I plants in the Netherlands. It employs 300 people. Each year, its three furnaces produce more than one billion bottles in amber and green glass for the Benelux beer market.
