Owens-Illinois to close Canada plant, expand in New Zealand

7/30/2008

Owens-Illinois Inc. said yesterday it will expand a bottle plant in Auckland, New Zealand, and closing a plant in Toronto.

The Canada factory will close by Sept. 30, affecting 430 employees, the Perrysburg firm said. Production will be transferred to other North American plants.

In Auckland, the firm will spend $60 million on another furnace and other improvements to boost daily output to 2.2 million bottles by 2010. The moves will create 35 jobs.