Arc To Grow In Russia

French-based Arc is considering acquiring Russian glassmaker Vassielievski Steklo Zavod, based near Kazan in Tatarstan. If the planned acquisition of a majority shareholding goes ahead, Arc expects to build a new production plant. The Russian manufacturer specialises in manual production of pharmaceutical glass & the automated production of ovenware, coffee pots & household glass from 2 furnaces producing borosilicate glass. Arc said they would add an extra furnace for the production of around 35,000/tpa soda-lime glass, plus a production line to form the glass into tumblers, exported to W.Europe as well as being sold locally. Arc said Western EU production costs for low-end tumblers are too high to be economic.