Scottish Enterprise boosts development with £3.9 million grant
Owens-Illinois, Inc., (NYSE: OI), the world leader in glass packaging, today celebrated its 30 million Euro investment in its Alloa facility. During an event attended by O-I Chairman and CEO Al Stroucken, customers, employees and government officials, the company highlighted the plant's upgraded capabilities 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," said 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."
First Minister Alex Salmond said: "Owens-Illinois are illustrating their long term commitment to Alloa, and to Scotland, which has been cemented by this multi-million pound investment. Not only will the new technology installed in the plant greatly assist the Scottish drinks industry, it will also allow the company to produce 100
percent Scottish products."
The investment in Alloa is part of the company's asset optimization programme. Over three years, O-I is investing significantly in Europe to strengthen its capabilities and market leadership position. By the end of 2014, O-I will have invested more than 280 million Euros over two years. O-I's European operations include 8,000 employees in 10 countries, O-I Europe had nearly 2.1 billion Euros of sales in 2013, representing approximately 40 percent of the company's global sales
