O-I Invests €30 Million in Alloa to Support Scotch Spirits Industry
O-1 (Owens-Illinois), the world leader in glass packaging, has invested Eur30 million to upgrade capabilities at its Alloa plant to better serve the Scotch whisky industry and other drinks businesses. The investment includes a £3.9 million Regional Selective Assistance grant from Scottish Enterprise.
The Alloa plant is uniquely positioned in the heart of Scotland’s distilled spirits industry. The investment builds on a heritage of 260 years of glassmaking on this site and on the skills of the company’s 600-strong expert workforce.
“We have upgraded Alloa’s design, new product development, glass colour and decoration facilities,” says Erik Bouts, president of O-I Europe. “We would like to thank Scottish Enterprise for its support in strengthening our ability to serve the developing needs of the spirits industry in Scotland.”
The investment in Alloa is part of the company’s asset optimization programme. Over three years, O-I is investing significantly inEuropeto strengthen its capabilities and market leadership position. By the end of 2014, O-I will have invested more than Eur280 million over two years. O-I’s European operations include 8,000 employees in 10 countries, O-I Europe had nearly Eur2.1 billion of sales in 2013, representing approximately 40% of the company’s global sales.
The company had tota; revenues of $7.0 billion in 2013 and employs approximately 22,500 people at 77 plants in 21 countries.
