UPDATED: Furnace rebuilds, equipment updates on tap for 2015

Ardagh Group to make up to $71m capital investments at its Indiana, US glass facility

By Jenny Eagle

- Last updated on GMT

Ardagh Group, Indiana, US, glass facility, capital investments

Related tags Ardagh group Investment

Ardagh Group, Glass North America, will receive a tax abatement of approximately $6.1m over 10 years from the City of Winchester and a grant of $300k for local equipment purchases and training of employees.

It has partnered with the City of Winchester, Randolph Economic Development Corporation (REDC/Randolph County Commissioners) and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) to support upcoming capital projects in Indiana.

IEDC has also given Ardagh Group up to $1m in conditional tax credits and up to $200k in training grants and Ardagh Group has agreed to make capital investments of nearly $71m at its Winchester glass facility over the next three years.

Ardagh Group's Winchester, Indiana, glassmaking facility
Ardagh Group's Winchester, Indiana, glassmaking facility

"This level of investment in a single glass manufacturing facility in such a brief period of time is unprecedented for Ardagh Group and extremely rare in our industry​," said John Riordan, president/CEO, Ardagh Group, Glass - North America.

"We are pleased the City of Winchester, Randolph County and the State of Indiana have agreed to provide Ardagh with these important incentives that help to justify our capital investments in Winchester​."

On tap for 2015

Paula Polei, marketing & communications manager for Ardagh Group’s Glass - North America business, told FoodProductionDaily, “The 2015 capital projects for the Winchester manufacturing facility include two furnace rebuilds, new IS (individual section) machines, one IS machine repair and updating a batch house.”​ 

Polei explained that the batch house is where sand, soda ash and limestone are weighed and mixed with other raw materials to create the batch mixture. A furnace then melts raw materials into glass, with each furnace supplying glass to several lines.

Glassmaking_Individual section machine
Individual section machine, courtesy of Wikipedia Commons.

“An IS machine accepts molten gobs into molds,”​ Polei said. “Compressed air or pressure forces the glass into the shape of the mold. When formed, glass containers leave the machine and cross a cooling plate.”

The Ardagh Group Winchester plant was built in 1937 and employs up to 400 people — making Ardagh Group the second largest employer in Randolph County. The facility manufactures glass containers for the food and spirits markets.

Steve Croyle, mayor of the City of Winchester, said the city was pleased to partner with Ardagh Group as it continues to grow opportunities for itself, the City of Winchester and its employees.

"The glass industry is an integral part of our community, providing jobs, investment and a quality of life,"​ Croyle said. 

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