News

Owens-Illinois, the glass container manufacturer, is to close its plant in Toronto, Canada after a global facility review of underused assets identified the opportunity to shift production to its other North American sites.

The closure, which will take place on 30 September, will result in the loss of 430 jobs.

The company said it would help the staff find new jobs.

Owens-Illinois also announced that it will invest NZ $80m (£29.7m) in expanding its Auckland plant by adding an additional furnace and two glass forming machines.

The expansion, which is expected to be in full operation by the first quarter of 2010, will enable the plant to make 2.2 million bottles a day.

The additional equipment will create 35 new jobs.

Al Stroucken, chairman and chief executive, said: "We will continually work to optimise our asset and furnace utilisation while at the same time expand in the regions where profitable growth supports new investments."

Owen-Illinois employs more than 24,000 people in 82 manufacturing facilities in 22 countries.