‘This is a major investment not only for the company but also Knottingley and the surrounding area of West Yorkshire,’ said Mark Devonald Smith, the Stölzle Glass Group Sales Director for Perfumery and Personal Care.

2009 was a difficult year for major investments to receive approval but the UK company was given the go-ahead for the new furnace in June. ‘Its construction was a logistical nightmare,’ said Mark. ‘All production had to be closed down and the opportunity was taken for incorporating that part of the factory into the site rebuild which is currently being undertaken.’

The construction of the new furnace took 42 days, extending over Christmas. It was fired up on the 4th of January. Now that it has been commissioned and production is proceeding smoothly, all five Sto-Flaconnage production lines are once again in operation. The fifth line was added in 2008 to meet demand. The IS machines operate with a combination of double and single gob, producing between 55,000 and 100,000 bottles per machine per day. Full annual capacity for the factory is 81 million pieces.

‘The whole operation has been a team effort,’ said Mark. ‘And it has generated a fantastic spirit amongst the whole company. Without the new furnace, the future of the factory had to be in doubt. Now we know it is guaranteed a highly successful part in the UK’s manufacturing output.’ 

Sto-Flaconnage is a member of the international Stölzle Glass Group.  The UK glass factory is one of four Stölzle production sites, the others are in Austria, Poland and the Czech Republic. Sto-Flaconnage has gained a unique reputation as a one-stop-shop for the whole range of packaging glass required by the Prestige Spirits and Beauty industries, offering standard ranges as well as custom designed containers. It handles development and production as well as decoration and offers a variety of key components such as closures and labels. The Group also produces pharmaceutical and food glass containers and specialised tableware.