Rexam Glass intends to shut a furnace and three associated production lines at its factory in Wahlstedt, Germany, to bring production capacity into line with current market demand. The measures are likely to affect 120 jobs, most of them at Wahlstedt. Shutting down the furnace will cut Rexam's glass melting capacity by 6%. Egbert Thusing, MD of Rexam Glass Germany, says: "The introduction of the deposit on one-way beverage packaging and the proposed widening of its scope to include other non-carbonated beverages has further affected glass volumes in Germany. These capacity adjustments, though regrettable, are very much in line with our ongoing post acquisition development plant designed to drive cost competitiveness and earnings growth and will help ensure Rexam's long-term position in the German market".
