Glass packaging manufacturer Consol has increased its total manufacturing capacity by 12% to 950,000 tons/year across its five facilities in South Africa.??Its new R1.9 billion manufacturing plant in Nigel has the capacity to produce 110,000 tons/year.? ?
The plant currently operates one furnace, but it has the capacity to operate six furnaces. Bringing a second furnace on-line, when market conditions allow for it, would reportedly cost R600 million and take less than nine months to install and commission.
Once the second furnace is complete, Consol’s yearly production will increase by a further 25%, taking its total capacity to over one million tons/year, which is equivalent to approximately four billion glass containers.?
The company has injected an estimated R50 million into the greater Nigel area and created a further 180 jobs with the new manufacturing plant in Pretoriusstad, South Africa.