A drop in demand for several products packaged in glass bottles and jars is prompting a Sapulpa glass plant to reduce production. Verallia North America says it will shut down one of three furnaces at its Sapulpa plant, which makes beer bottles. The slowdown will begin around September 16, 2013 and will continue through December. The company says the slowdown will force it to layoff some employees, but the majority of employees at the plant won't be affected. In a statement, Gina L. Behrman, Director of Corporate Communications, says sales and inventory levels will determine when the plant will resume full production: Demand has slowed for several products packaged in glass bottles and jars this year. Verallia North America's plants have been working very hard to overcome these challenges, but its Sapulpa, Oklahoma, facility is now being impacted. Accordingly, the decision has been made to take downtime beginning on or about September 16, 2013, in Sapulpa, which is currently expected to continue through December, given the present weak demand for the beer bottles the plant has been producing for many years and current inventory levels. Accordingly, it is the intent to drain one of the glass furnaces in Sapulpa, which allows the company to minimize issues during a furnace restart. The Company will continue to monitor sales and inventory levels, as well as explore new opportunities to determine a restart date.
