In a statement, Verallia confirmed its intention to “implement a plan to reduce its workforce and costs.” This strategic adjustment is anticipated to result in approximately 100 job redundancies. The reductions are expected to particularly impact the company’s facilities in Bad Wurzach and Essen.

Verallia estimates the cost associated with these workforce adjustments to be around €10 million. This move underscores the significant pressures currently facing the glass container market in Germany, necessitating operational adjustments to maintain competitiveness and stability.

Further details regarding the implementation of the plan and support for affected employees are expected to be provided by Verallia as the process moves forward. This announcement highlights the dynamic and sometimes difficult economic landscape within which manufacturing industries operate, requiring companies to adapt to evolving market realities.

Source: Verallia with additional information added by GlassBalkan

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A super-boosted furnace for more sustainable production
Following the partial renovation of Furnace 3 in 2022, the complete renovation of furnace No. 1 at the Chalon-sur-Saône site is a key step in the modernization plan for this iconic plant in the Chalon basin. Specializing in the production of clear glass, furnace No. 1 produces iconic bottles from the Burgundy and Bordeaux regions, as well as specialty products for the spirits, still wine, and food markets, distributed locally, nationally, and internationally.

Thanks to this modernization, the furnace benefits from “super-boosted” technology, increasing the share of electricity in its energy mix. This now stands at 25 percent, thus reducing natural gas consumption to 75 percent. This development allows the Chalon-sur-Saône site to reduce its CO₂ emissions by 11 percent, while increasing its electrical melting power.

This is part of Verallia Group’s overall decarbonization strategy, which aims to reduce its CO₂ emissions by 46 percent by 2030 through the deployment of two new technologies: 100 percent electric furnaces, such as the one inaugurated in Cognac in September 2024, and hybrid furnaces planned for Spain in late 2025 and then in Saint-Romain-Le-Puy in 2026, reducing CO₂ emissions by 60 percent and 50 percent respectively.

Chalon-sur-Saône plant: 113 years of local anchorage and industrial expertise
Built in 1912, the Chalon-sur-Saône site is now the Verallia Group’s largest plant. With its 500 employees and three furnaces, the factory produces nearly a billion bottles each year. Recognized for its expertise in white glass, it notably produces the famous “dead leaf” colour, characteristic of Burgundy wines.

Source: Verallia France with additional information added by GlassBalkan

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A five-year contract for gas deliveries will allow Verallia to test the long-term effects of hydrogen use in the two furnaces at its plant in Karnap, Essen.

ArcelorMittal will supply its hydrogen-rich energy gas from its Bottrop coking plant.

Uniper will provide the pipeline for gas transportation between the two industrial plants, which are approximately 3.5 km apart.

Verallia aims to operate 6MW hydrogen powered melting capacity on a daily basis, which it said was a world first for the glass industry.

Depending on the hydrogen injection rate, the Karnap plant will see its CO₂ emissions reduced by 8 to 10% per year.

Romain Barral, Vice President Operations at Verallia, said: “Our goal is to ensure that hydrogen provides a large portion of the furnaces’ energy needs for the coming years.

“To our knowledge, this is a world first for the glass industry.”

The partnership came into effect at the end of 2024, and the Karnap plant is now operating with a large portion of hydrogen.

Mr Barral continued: “We will conduct various simulations, and closely analyse all data to have the technical keys that will allow us to consider other energy conversions in the future, if this solution proves relevant.

“There are still many hurdles to overcome, particularly the availability of green hydrogen and the economic aspects of the cost of this energy.”

Before starting the project in Essen, Verallia conducted an initial test at its Zaragoza plant in Spain.

For several days, the furnaces operated with a mixture containing up to 60% hydrogen, delivered by truck.

This experiment, carried out with the support of Air Liquide, allowed Verallia’s R&D teams to characterise the implementation, equipment, safety, and monitoring issues.

In addition, it considered all elements related to combustion, performance, furnace control, and emission impacts.

Source: Verallia with additional information added by GlassBalkan

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