John Key, the New Zealand Prime Minister formally unlocked O-I's US$ 85M glass manufacturing furnace recently, to hold up New Zealand's well-known beer & wine business. O-I NZ has been providing the regional food & beverage business ever since 1922. The savings at O-I NZ's Auckland factory created 38 jobs and are expected to increase industrialized production by 90,000 tons of glass per annum. The new furnace will enable O-I NZ to double its reprocessing of cullet to 154,000/tpa, thus providing reductions in carbon release & waste moving to landfill. According to Steve Bramlage, O-I NZ general manager, the latest furnace could also boost the accessibility of glass containers, ensuring safety of supply & offer smaller lead times & cargo competence for clientele.
