O-I completes a 21 million Euro investment in Leerdam

The company expects a 15 per cent decrease in CO2 emissions as a result of this investment. The furnace and new machines were inaugurated today by O-I Europe’s president, Erik Bouts, with 50 customers, employees and local officials at a ceremony at the plant.

 

“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 Euros in our European operations,” said 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.”

 

Gerard Pille, sales and distribution director of O-I Benelux said, "This investment demonstrates O-I’s commitment to support the growth ambitions of both our multinational and regional brewers in the important Benelux market, while continuing the great tradition of glassmaking in this community.”

 

The Leerdam plant is one of three O-I plants in the Netherlands. The plant employs 300 people. Each year, its three furnaces produce more than one billion bottles in amber and green glass for the Benelux beer market.

 

O-I’s European operations comprise 8,000 employees in 11 countries, with more than €2.1 billion of sales in 2012. This represents approximately 40 percent of the company’s global sales.

 

 

About O-I

 

Owens-Illinois, Inc. (NYSE: OI) is the world's largest glass container manufacturer and preferred partner for many of the world's leading food and beverage brands. With revenues of $7.0 billion in 2012, the Company is headquartered in Perrysburg, Ohio, USA, and employs approximately 22,500 people at 79 plants in 21 countries. O-I delivers safe, sustainable, pure, iconic, brand-building glass packaging to a growing global marketplace. O-I’s Glass Is Life™ movement promotes the widespread benefits of glass packaging in key markets around the globe. For more information, visit www.o-i.com or www.glassislife.com.