• Ardagh Glass expects to receive bids for its Budweiser beer bottle-making unit this week in a deal that would allay antitrust concerns about the group’s proposed expansion in the US. Ardagh has been working with Citigroup to sell the majority of its US bottle-to-jam jar division, Anchor Glass, which it bought for $892 million in 2012. The process, which has attracted interest from private equity and strategic suitors, is at an early stage and may not result in a deal. A value for Anchor’s six factories could not be ascertained. The division had earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation of $103 million in the 12 months to September. 
https://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/manufacturing/ardagh-glass-expecting-bids-for-beer-bottle-unit-1.1697871 


  • Saint-Gobain Group announced the appointment of Jean-Pierre Floris, senior vice president, to president, packaging sector and chairman and CEO of Verallia. He will also oversee the Innovative Materials Sector. 

  • The Mordovcement group of companies plans to build of a float glass plant in the Republic of Mordovia, in Russia in 2014. According to the regional government the plant will cost RUS 8.5 billion ($241.2 million) and its capacity will be 250 million square meters of glass per year. Mordovcement is one of Russia’s largest cement producers in Russia and was founded in 1975. 

  • Mineral sands miner Iluka’s full-year profit for 2013 dropped to A$18-million from A$363.2-million at the end of 2012. The company told shareholders that it had written down A$28-million in assets during the year, while rehabilitation provisions increased to A$13 million. 

  • According to statistics released by China Iron and Steel Association, 27 blast furnaces were put into production in China in 2013—22 new blast furnaces and five blast furnaces that underwent overhaul and technology upgrading. 

Author

P. Carlo Ratto

CTT Categories

  • Glass
  • Material Innovations
  • Refractories