Verescence has unveiled last week its largest glass-melting furnace and presented the various improvements of its French flagship plant in Mers-Les-Bains.
30 million euros
This investment is part of the “Excellence 2018” plan - a global investment plan of more than 100 million euros - and more specifically of the “Mers 2018” plan, dedicated to the glass production site in Mers-Les-Bains. Verescence has allocated a total budget of 30 million euros to renovate the plant of which 11 million euros of investment for the reconstruction of the furnace #6.
With an output capacity of 700,000 bottles per day, the furnace is the group’s most significant one as well as one of the world’s largest. “This furnace is dedicated to bottles made with Xtra Flint glass, a glass of an outstanding quality and highly appreciated by the high-end perfumery players for its brightness and transparency,” said the French glassmaker in a release.
Reduced environmental footprint
The reconstruction of the glass-melting furnace #6 was an opportunity to reduce the site’s environmental impact, with a reduction by 15% of energy consumption and 40% of CO2 emissions.
These works were also a good opportunity to renovate the entire manufacturing area through various improvements both in terms of work efficiency and working conditions. The whole modernization process was also designed with the aim to improve the plant’s amenities (social areas, offices…) some of which are still ongoing and offering more modern and comfortable work and rest areas for the employees.
Good Manufacturing Practices
Eventually, it should be noted that Verescence, which operates four glass production sites in France, Spain, the United States, and Brazil, and five sites dedicated to finishing (two in France, one in Spain, one in the US, and another in Brazil), is the only glassmaker to have been certified in all its European plants according to the cosmetics Good Manufacturing Practices (ISO 22716:2007).
In 2016, Verescence employed 2,950 people worldwide and achieved sales revenue of 330 million euros.
