The company says that the new R&D centre ‘will help advance new concepts and qualify emerging technologies that could revolutionise glass melting and forming’.
“By significantly changing the way glass is made, we can deliver even more innovative and brand-building products for our customers, increase the efficiency of our operations and further enhance the sustainability of glass,” said Giancarlo Currarino, vice president and chief technology officer.
In the future, the centre will include the ability to prototype product innovations, such as the company’s recently launched VersaFlow jar – part of the Versa platform of functional food packages – and the new Vortex bottle.
This R&D centre is one component of O-I’s plans to invest in process and product innovation efforts. This announcement reflects a three-year, $35m investment.
Since 2008, investments exceeding $30m have yielded more than 25,000 sq ft of the finest research and development training laboratories in the glass container industry, and spurred the release of next-generation manufacturing and inspection equipment.
In addition to capital investment, dozens of new research scientists, engineers and technicians have laid the groundwork for significant advancements in glass R&D.
O-I plans to break ground on the 18,000 sq ft facility in the fourth quarter of 2012, and targets completion in late 2013.
The facility will be funded in part by a $3m grant offer from the Ohio Third Frontier Commission, which O-I announced in June 2012. The centre will result in the creation of 45 jobs in basic sciences, engineering and technical disciplines over several years.
Source: O-I
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