Glass container plant opens in Vietnam

A state-of-the-art glass container manufacturing plant has opened in Vietnam. Joint venture partners Owens-Illinois (O-I), Berli Jucker Public Company Limited (BJC) and Saigon Beer Alcohol Beverage Company (SABECO) opened the US$47 million factory on 7 February.

Vietnam's new state-of-the-art glass manufacturing plant.

The factory will initially produce 75,000 tonnes a year of mainly returnable premium glass containers for Vietnam’s alcohol, soft drink and pharmaceutical markets. The plant has the capacity to produce 84,000 tonnes of glass each year to adapt to market trends.

Employing nearly 450 people, mainly from the Ba Ria region, the plant uses natural gas for improved sustainability. It replaces an existing facility in Ho Chi Minh City that was vacated to accommodate the city’s urban development plans.

The plant has opened in response to Vietnam’s recent strong economic growth and regional need for economical and sustainable packaging.