Vetropack under pressure – slump in consumption threatens jobs at bottle manufacturers

Vetropack is a big player as a producer of glass packaging: used glass is melted down and processed into new bottles and jars, into which beer, mineral water, milk, jams, etc. are later filled. But the drop in consumption is forcing the company to reduce production capacity. This causes tremors – also in Kremsmünster.

“We can already see that 2024 will continue seamlessly from the weak second half of the previous year; we will focus on cost reductions; “Already planned investments in our plants will be postponed as far as possible” – this is all stated in the letter from the Board of Directors, which is published on the Vetropack website. The extent to which the glass packaging manufacturer is under pressure is shown by the fact that Vetropack is not only planning to close the main plant in… Switzerland is examining, but is also considering reducing production in Kremsmünster. Currently, more bottles and the like are being produced than needed. The reason is a decline in demand for green and stained glass, triggered in turn by inflation and general uncertainty, which is affecting the willingness to consume People are depressed, which is why beverage and food manufacturers need less glass packaging. The result: Significantly more bottles etc. are produced than needed. 323 employees in the factory in KremsmünsterWhat exactly is being considered in Kremsmünster? The temporary closure of one of the three melting tanks, specifically the one with the designation F32. “Accordingly, job cuts are also under discussion,” says the company, which has a total of 323 employees at its location in Upper Austria. The employees were informed about the difficult situation and possible consequences. The extent to which there will be a reduction in personnel is currently being determined. “Where possible, we want to avoid layoffs,” they say. In the previous year, Vetropack had repeatedly adjusted capacities across the entire group, resulting in hundreds of days of downtime for production lines.
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