The potential closure of furnaces at the glass plant in Harlow has been raised within the glass sector following last month's announcement by owner O-I that it is going to close some of its furnaces around the world. O-I currently operate 166 furnaces in 22 countries & announced in Sept at the Bank of America Investment Conference that in 2008 there would be "capacity reduction for 10 furnaces" & that there was the "potential of a further 10-15 in connection with the previously announced footprint assessment" undertaken by the company. The Harlow plant, which has glass processed by Berryman, is one of two UK facilities operated by O-I, the other being at Alloa in Scotland where it provides a large amount of glass packaging to the whisky industry.
