Oi To Close Jar & Bowl Making Divisions In France And Finland

Container glass manufacturer Owens-Illinois will close the jar and bowl making divisions of its unit Verreries Mecaniques Champenoises (VMC) based in Reims, northern France, and in Karhula, Finland. The two divisions employ a total of 252, of whom 146 in France. Other European units will not be affected for the time being by the restructuring plan. According to French trade unions, the US group has decided to focus on the more profitable production of bottles and plans to abandon jar manufacturing. Owens-Illinois bought the French plant in 2001.