Vetropack Group has decided to shut down a furnace at its Kremsmünster site. This is due to the tense market situation in Europe and the company's long-term investment and sustainability strategy.
Vetropack Group has informed its employees at the Kremsmünster site that one of the three furnaces will be decommissioned earlier than originally planned. The measure is part of the long-term development of the site and is related to the planned merger of two furnaces into a modern, larger and more energy-efficient production facility.
Vetropack justifies the decision to bring forward the already planned closure with the current tense market situation in Europe. From both an economic and ecological point of view, it makes sense to shut down the furnace completely, as this is the only way to sustainably reduce energy consumption and costs at the site. The decommissioning is intended to End of April be started.
Effects on employment and location structure
The measure also has an impact on the workforce in Kremsmünster. Jobs will have to be reduced as a result of the closure. According to the company, the majority of these will be temporary employment contracts and natural fluctuation. Vetropack intends to work out individual solutions for other affected employees, including voluntary severance payments.
Johann Eggerth, Head of the Switzerland/Austria division, emphasises: „The fact that we are bringing forward an interim step that was already planned is the right decision under the current conditions. However, it does not change our long-term plans for the site.“ Kremsmünster remains an important production site, where Vetropack is sticking to its planned investments. The merger of the two remaining vats into a more efficient facility should ensure the plant's long-term competitiveness.
Focus on efficiency and sustainability
The planned consolidation of the furnace in 2028 will enable production to be carried out in a larger and more energy-efficient facility in future. It is part of Vetropack Group's sustainability strategy and should contribute to a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions at the site.
Independently of the closure of the furnace, the mould workshop will also be relocated from Kremsmünster to the other Austrian Vetropack site in Pöchlarn in the coming weeks. This step is part of the ongoing optimisation of the site structures in Austria.
Source: Vetropack
