News

Owens Illinois, the glass container manufacturer, has announced it will close its third Canadian plant this year in order to lower energy consumption.

The company announced that it will close its Lavington, British Colombia site on 31 October, with the loss of 300 jobs, and shift production to other North American O-I facilities.

North American Glass Containers president Scott Murchison said the decision was part of the company's "ongoing asset utilisation process", which should result in "lower energy and production costs".

Earlier this month O-I announced the closure of its Toronto, Canada plant after a global facility review of underused assets identified the opportunity to shift production to its other North American sites.

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

In March the company closed its Scoudouc, New Brunswick facility that resulted in the loss of 200 employees.

However, at the end of July the company reported record profit of $232m (£117m), up 65%, in the second quarter to 30 June. Sales increased 11% to $2.2bn.

O-I employs more than 24,000 people in 82 manufacturing facilities in 22 countries, including two UK plants in Harlow, Essex and Alloa, central Scotland.