The Stölzle Glass Group invests in its production of pharmaceutical packaging glass in the Czech Republic At the Czech Stölzle plant in Hermanova Hut the glass moulding machines are running hot. Stölzle-Union suffered a disastrous fire on 24th December 2009. Soon, though, it will shine in new splendour and become one of Europe’s flagships for pharmaceutical packaging glass. The first step was to build a completely new production hall, including a regenerative state-of-the- art furnace notable for its extremely low energy consumption and optimized NOX emission. Equipped with specific dust filters, it will keep emissions well below the maximum legal limit.

With this ecologically effective furnace, Stölzle is making a valuable contribution towards keeping the factory’s environmental impact to a minimum . “As far as possible we will repair the former IS machines and add new machines that take advantage of the most modern production technology available. To cope with the steadily increasing demand for pharmaceutical glass and miniatures in amber glass and react to the constantly rising cost pressure , we will increase production capacity by moving up to 2 production lines from other STO facilities to Stölzle-Union or adding new ones,” says Johannes Schick, CEO of the Stölzle Glass Group.

During this period of production standstill, the fully-automated Cold End of the Czech plant, which was only marginally damaged by the fire, has also been undergoing an extensive renovation. The factory site has been increased by the purchase of more than 13000 m2 of adjacent land, of which 5000 m2 are dedicated to enlarging the sorting and storage areas. This increased space will ensure that the company can conform to the ISO and GMP pharmaceutical manufacturer requirements. In addition to the operation of the most modern inspection and packaging machines, all lines dedicated to the production of pharmaceutical glass will take advantage of Laminar Flow clean room technology.

The solidarity and cooperation that Stölzle employees have shown in the Czech factory rebuilding project demonstrates that the Stölzle motto: “ Unity is Stölzle’s strength“ lives throughout the Glass group. The support and effort of Stölzle employees in all the sites, especially the know-how provided by the Austrian plant, expert in the production of pharmaceutical glass, has been vital in the achievement of technical perfection in such a limited time. Production is planned to restart mid-July and the official inauguration of the plant will take place mid-October, by which time all additional work such as minor construction and landscaping will be completed.

For further information, please contact:

• Mag. Doris Marka

• Stölzle-Oberglas GmbH
• Fabrikstraße 11
• A-8580 Köflach

• Marketing

• Phone: +43-3144-706-328
• Fax: +43-3144-706-386
• Mail: doris.marka@stoelzle.com

Source: www.packagingeurope.com
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