Vetropack Group has informed employees at its Kremsmünster plant in Austria that it will shut down one of the site’s three glass melting furnaces earlier than originally scheduled, accelerating an already planned step in its long-term industrial roadmap. The decision comes as part of Vetropack’s wider plan to merge two existing furnaces into a modernised, larger-capacity and more climate-friendly production facility, a major upgrade targeted for 2028.

According to the company, the move is driven by the “tense” market situation in Europe, where demand uncertainty and cost pressure are forcing manufacturers to align capacity more tightly with real production needs. Vetropack says that fully shutting down one furnace is the most effective way to generate meaningful savings, because only a complete stop delivers a sustainable reduction in both energy consumption and operating costs. The shutdown process is set to begin at the end of April, marking an early transition toward a leaner configuration at the site.

The announcement also carries workforce implications. Vetropack confirmed that job reductions will be necessary, with most cuts expected to be managed through temporary contracts and natural attrition. For employees affected beyond that scope, the company says it is preparing solutions including voluntary severance arrangements.

Johann Eggerth, General Manager Business Division Switzerland/Austria, emphasised that the accelerated shutdown is an “interim step” and does not change Vetropack’s long-term commitment to Kremsmünster. The planned furnace merger in 2028 remains a core investment, designed to strengthen efficiency, competitiveness, and CO₂ reduction performance through a more energy-efficient melting operation.

Separately, Vetropack will relocate its mould shop from Kremsmünster to its other Austrian site in Pöchlarn in the coming weeks, as part of ongoing optimisation of its national site structure.