O-I Glass plans a major transformation of its Alloa, UK, manufacturing plant into an even more technologically advanced facility with an expected significant reduction in CO2 emissions.
Over the next two years, the company plans to invest approximately USD 150 million in a series of upgrades to the site. The transformation includes a rebuild of one of its existing furnaces, featuring state-of-the art technology and improved sustainability performance through several planned measures including gas-oxy combustion and increased levels of renewable energy and recycled glass.
In addition, O-I has begun to build an all-new furnace featuring the same technological advancements. This furnace will increase long-term flexibility to serve the company’s customers, support their growth plans in the Spirits segment, and strengthen their own sustainability efforts.
These investments are consistent with O-I’s recently updated sustainability roadmap, which is aligned with the company’s previously announced capital spending plan, as well as with expected market demand. The company expects both furnaces to come online in 2025 when these measures will gradually and significantly reduce the plant’s emissions and provide another building block of the company’s strategy to reduce CO2 emissions 25 percent by 2030.
To fuel the gas-oxy furnaces, O-I is partnering with a supplier to establish an oxygen farm adjacent to the Alloa plant. Bringing more new investment into the area, this state-of-the art facility will separate air into oxygen, nitrogen and argon, and is set to also serve the needs of hospitals and other local manufacturing companies.
These initiatives establish an infrastructure that prepares a base for continued transformation of the Alloa site with a long-term horizon towards the end of the decade.
“With glass production starting in the year 1750, the Alloa plant has the longest heritage of all O-I sites,” said Jim Rankine, O-I’s UK Managing Director. “We are proud that Alloa is also a prime example of transforming heritage into a state-of-the-art facility in the 21st century, and we are looking forward to continue serving our customers with sustainable glass.”