By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The management of Beta Glass Plc has assured shareholders of the company that the $30 million new furnace being put in place at its factory in the Agbara area of Ogun State would be completed in the first half of next year.
The firm, in a statement issued on Thursday, said it was working tirelessly to achieve this goal, which is aimed to increase plant’s capacity by 35,000 tons per year.
Beta Glass stated that the new furnace project comes with an additional production line, improvements to existing production lines including the latest inspection equipment which will further enhance operational efficiency.
In addition, the facility is pioneering the use of Narrow Neck Press and Blow (NNPB) technology in West Africa, which would enable the organisation bring lighter weight, non-returnable glass bottles to market in Nigeria for the first time.
It was emphasised that the new furnace, which will be among the most advanced of its kind globally, will be instrumental to Beta Glass strengthening its position as the leading supplier of glass bottles and complementary packaging products in West Africa.
The new furnace will have a planned productive life of more than 12 years and will replace the existing furnace which will end its productive life by next year.
Speaking on the development, Managing Director of Beta Glass, Mr Darren Bennett-Voci, stated that, “We are delighted by the progress we have made so far on the expansion project.”
“Our investment in this state-of-the art facility reaffirms our deep faith in Nigeria and the high growth potential of West Africa,” he said.
“The new furnace will significantly enhance our ability to meet the growing demand for glass bottles and jars in Nigeria and across West Africa, as well as create a number of new jobs, both direct and indirect. I would like to thank our stakeholders for the invaluable support since the inception of the project,” Mr Bennett-Voci, said further.
On his part, Chairman of Beta Glass Plc, Mr Abimbola Ogunbanjo, opined that, “The new furnace will enable us to leverage the latest technology and our technical expertise to make world-class glass packaging products in Nigeria, whilst promoting sustainability and improving our environmental footprint. This investment will enable growth and create long-term value for both our shareholders and society.”
