Page 52 - Glass Machinery Plants & Accessories no. 5/2017
P. 52
COMPANY UPDATE
Company update
stood at EUR 326.8. Leverage a major project to install special
ratio stood at 1.9 times 12 atmospheric emissions purifica-
months EBITDA. tion systems, called electrostatic
precipitators or electrofilters, in
Outlook all production centres. These
Demand for food and bever- installations, which have cost the
ages glass containers still show a Group more than EUR 20 mil-
gradual progress throughout the lion over the last eight years,
main markets of Vidrala. This are aimed exclusively at reducing
trend is consistent with the pro- emissions of particulate pollut-
gressive development of prod- ants, and are recognised under
ucts, brands and consumption European legislation as the best
patterns that choose glass as the currently available technology in
preferred material. reducing consumption, cutting this regard. Electrofilters work
Under this context, Vidrala’s costs and minimising the impact by attracting and retaining parti-
financial results throughout the on the environment. Additionally, cles generated during the melting
current year should continue to operating priorities are focused process through electrical fields,
be supported by the solid busi- on intensifying the growing use and reduce typical melting fur-
ness profile. of recycled products as the main nace emissions by more than 90
In any case, management pri- raw material for manufactur- per cent.
orities will remain firmly focused ing glass, the effect of which
on optimizing customer service, is twofold as it not only avoids OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
ensuring cost competitiveness the consumption of natural raw AND SAFETY
and strengthening the solvency materials, but also contributes to Vidrala’s daily activity is car-
of the capital structure as a foun- reducing fossil fuel consumption ried out by some 3,200 employ-
dation for sustainable long-term and the resulting pollution. ees, the majority of whom work
value creation. One of the Group’s strategic in an industrial or manufacturing
guidelines is the implementation environment.
THE COMPANY of environmental management Consequently, the Vidrala
AND THE ENVIRONMENT systems. In line with this commit- Group remains committed to
The Vidrala Group declares ment, all the Group’s production establishing the soundest occupa-
itself firmly committed to pro- facilities have ISO 14001:2004 tional health and safety measures.
tecting the environment. With certification, demonstrating that This commitment is endorsed by
this objective in mind, Vidrala Vidrala operates under a global, the gradual implementation of
implements specific action plans externally verified and recognised occupational health and safety
in relation to emissions in the environmental management sys- management systems based on
atmosphere, dumping, waste, the tem. Furthermore, in keeping
consumption of raw materials, with its undertaking to continu-
energy, water and noise. ous improvement, the implemen-
Glass manufacturing is an tation and certification of new
inherently energy-intensive pro- environmental standards has
cess as melting furnaces are in begun, such as ISO 14064:2012,
operation 24 hours a day, 365 related to the voluntary declara-
days a year. Given the indus- tion of CO2 emissions, or the
trial nature of the process, one ISO 50001:2011 energy man-
of management’s objectives is agement system standard, both
to reduce the associated envi- of which, CO2 emissions and
ronmental impact. In order to energy, are of clear environmen-
achieve this, specific investments tal significance in our industrial
are made to upgrade factory process.
facilities and adapt them to the In addition, Vidrala has a spe-
most efficient technological sys- cific commitment to invest in
tems for reducing environmen- minimising the potential pollut-
tal impacts. The efforts geared ing effect of its facilities. Of par-
towards energy efficiency have ticular relevance during 2016 in
a global effect on the business, this regard was the conclusion of
glass machinery plants & accessories 5/2017
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