Owens-Illinois shows off new Innovation Center in Perrysburg

6/13/2014

Owens-Illinois Inc. said today its new $35 million Innovation Center will help propel the glass industry into the future.

The 24,000-square-foot facility at the company‘‍s Perrysburg world headquarters is essentially a miniaturized glass factory, giving the company the ability to test both new products and new processes. Situated just feet away from the company‘‍s existing laboratory, the new building creates a type of research and development facility that O-I has never before had.

The center went on line in September and officials say it already has exceeded expectations. More than 40 prototypes have been produced, and the line has worked with four colors of glass, including a new red glass that O-I officials say the bottling industry has long desired.

Ludovic Valette, O-I‘‍s global vice president of research and development, said approximately 100 people have been added to support the new center.