US-based Owens-Illinois says it has developed a revolutionary new process that substantially reduces the amount of glass needed to manufacture bottles, and speeds up production. Lightweight Duraglas XL bottles need less raw materials and energy to make but are stronger and cut transportation costs, according to O-I, which owns UK-based United Glass. OI's chairman said "The process for producing Duraglas XL bottles is a major advance in glass container manufacturing, which will enable customers to offer consumers the premium image of glass on an even more efficient and competitive basis with other rigid packaging materials." The production process embodies O-I's proprietary cased gob technology. Duraglas XL beer bottles can be produced with 10-20% fewer raw materials and, because forming machines run at higher speeds manufacturing costs should fall.
