Renowned glass container manufacturer, Arglass, Welcomes Luis Lema as Project Director for Ambitious $230 Million Furnace Construction
Arglass, a leading glass container manufacturer, is set to elevate its production capabilities with the appointment of industry veteran Luis Lema as the Project Director for the construction of its second glass furnace in Valdosta, Georgia, USA. The $230 million project aims to establish a cutting-edge furnace capable of melting 490 metric tons of glass per day, translating to a remarkable annual output of over 350 million sustainable glass containers at Arglass’s Valdosta campus. With 28 years of extensive experience, Lema, who has previously contributed to major projects with O-I Glass and Ardagh Glass Packaging North America, brings invaluable expertise to this endeavor.
During his impressive career, Lema notably oversaw multiple furnace construction projects, including the $562 million joint-venture construction of a fifth glass furnace at Industria Vidriera de Coahuila’s (IVC) plant in Piedras Negras, Mexico, completed in 2020. This project significantly increased the plant’s production capacity to 9.5 million bottles per day. Lema also played a key role in the $108 million expansion of O-I’s plant in Zipaquirá, Colombia, in 2022. His comprehensive experience in project and engineering management, environmental health and safety leadership, contractors management, and site startup positions him as an ideal leader for Arglass’s ambitious expansion.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the new challenge, Lema stated, “After 28 years of experience in the industry, I’m ready for a new challenge in building the most innovative and sustainable furnace operation in North America. I’m honored to be part of the Arglass team as the company raises the bar for digital glassmaking and environmental stewardship.” José de Diego Arozamena, Chairman, and CEO of Arglass, expressed confidence in Lema’s capabilities, stating, “As construction begins on our second furnace, Luis brings the expertise we need to carry our expansion through to its full potential. His wealth of knowledge and experience is an incredibly valuable asset as we go through our first campus expansion.”
The ambitious project, slated for completion in Q2 2025, aligns with Arglass’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and expansion in the glass manufacturing sector.
Source: GlassBalkan