Vetropack, a leading Swiss company in the European glass packaging industry, has signed a preliminary purchase agreement to buy a plot of land in Boffalora sopra Ticino, on the outskirts of the Milan area, northern Italy, to construct a new leading-edge glassworks. It will replace the existing plant in Trezzano by the end of 2021. Vetropack plans to invest around EUR 200 million during these three years.
The Vetropack Group operates eight glassworks in Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia, Ukraine and Italy. Vetropack Italia, the latest subsidiary, was acquired in 2015 and is based in Trezzano sul Naviglio. In the future, however, the plant will no longer be able to meet the increasing demand and technical requirements, as well as the planned growth targets. “We have therefore decided not to upgrade the existing facility at the end of its furnaces’ service life in 2021, especially as the size of the plot would not support further expansion,” says Johann Reiter, CEO of the Vetropack Group. “We have looked for a larger site for a new plant nearby. We have found one in the industrial area of Boffalora sopra Ticino.” The area identified is a former paper mill and owned by RDM Group. The glassworks in Trezzano will be closed once production is under way in Boffalora sopra Ticino. The current workforce will be transferred to the modern glassworks.
“Building Vetropack’s first greenfield site in Italy is key for our Group strategy. The Italian markets play a significant role in developing our future success,” explains Claude R. Cornaz, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vetropack Holding. “With this unique project, we are continuing to permanently improve the efficiency and quality capabilities of our production. Highly customized packaging glass and efficient mass productions will allow us to satisfy our current and future customers.”
The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Vetropack glassworks is scheduled for the end of 2019 and the grand opening at the end of 2021. Vetropack plans to invest around EUR 200 million during these three years.
Vetropack Group is one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of glass packaging for the food and beverage industry with headquarters in Bülach (Switzerland). It runs state-of-the-art production facilities, as well as sales and distribution centres in Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia, Ukraine and Italy. The Group, which increased net sales by 5.0% to CHF 631.5 million in 2017 and sold more than 5 billion glass packaging, has more than 3,200 employees. Vetropack Group is an independent family company and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (Vetropack Holding Ltd, VET).