Rexam's glass sector had a tough financial year in 2001, says group chairman J Lancaster. "Our focus on cost containment & added value products mitigated the affects but overcapacity continued to affect selling prices in Europe," he said. "The strength of sterling favoured low price imports to the UK with a subsequent affect on sales." Capacity is being reduced in two of Rexam's glass packaging factories as part of its programme to improve efficiencies, a programme which will also cut capacity in its plastics business. Sales & operating profit from the glass sector were little changed from 2000. Its figures are included in those for Rexam's beverage packaging operations as a whole, and while both sales and profits rose strongly this was mainly down to the cans business. Rexam's marketing manger, Bill Nankivell says the firm is well placed to meet the challenges.
