South African glassmaker Nampak Wiegand Glass has launched the lightest of all glass 750ml wine bottles made in the country. The glass bottle weighs only 340g (compared to the standard 450g bottle) and is manufactured using the latest technology available for glass container manufacturing, the Narrow Neck Press and Blow Process, which enables the glass to be distributed more evenly during the manufacturing process, resulting in less glass needed to ensure acceptable strength and durability. Annual volumes for the first year are modestly estimated at 2M units for the 340g version - a saving of 60/tons of raw material. The volumes are, however, aimed to more than double in 2012. Nampak Wiegand Glass's manufacturing process are complimented - and reduced - by using up to, and sometimes more than 45% cullet (recovered waste glass collected from recycling initiatives).
