Glass packaging manufacturer Vetropack Austria made consolidated sales of EUR 131.2M in 2006, up 7.8% year-on-year, Vetropack Austria reported on 21 March 2007. Domestic sales increased 9.0% year-on-year to EUR 76.6M with the biggest increase in the beer bottle segment due to higher demand for non-returnable beer bottles. Sales in the wine bottle segment were in line with 2005 levels. Exports grew to EUR 54.7M (EUR 51.7M) year-on-year mainly as result of the development in the food & beer segments. In 2006, Vetropack Austria invested EUR 18.4M in the installation of a new opal glass furnace & modernisation of its plant in Kremsmuenster, Lower Austria. The company has allocated EUR 8.9M for investments in raising the level of production & testing equipment at the two plants in Kremsmuenster & Poechlarn in 2007. Vetropack Austria employs a total 607 persons at its two plants.
