The merger of two well established glass manufacturing companies is creating a new force in the UK's glass container industry. Lax & Shaw, in Leeds and Gregg & Co (Knottingley), whcih together employ over 700 people, are to form Allied Glass Containers. The new company will have the capacity to produce over 650m glass containers/year and annual sales are expected to be around £60m. According to Andrew Spencer, the new chief executive officer, the merger of the two operations under one name in Spetember this year aims to capitalise on the combined strength of both companies in order to increase flexibility and capability in a larger coordinated operation. The merger will secure jobs at both sites for the foreseeable future and further investment is planned. (whole item)
