French container glassmaker Saverglass celebrated the opening of its new $120 million Mexican plant.

The plant (pictured) in Acatlán de Juárez, Guadalajara, Mexico was formerly opened on October 18, 2018.

The aim of the Saverglass Mexico plant is to respond to the increasing trend for premiumisation in the drinks sector, for example: tequilas and mezcals in Mexico, fine wines and spirits in the United States and rums in the Caribbean.

The plant is situated in the state of Jalisco, a few kilometers from the town of Tequila, and 40km from Guadalajara, the 2nd largest city in Mexico City.

It is also near the ports of Manzanillo serving the Pacific Coast and Veracruz on the East Coast, and is also close to major roads and railways leading to the rest of the Americas.

In its initial phase, the Saverglass Mexico plant will operate a furnace that is capable of producing 85,000 tons, or some 120 million bottles in two colours: Extra White flint and Antique glass.

The plant has been supplemented by a range of decorative processes, namely: automatic or semi-automatic screen printing using organic inks, enamel, or precious metals, allowing bottles and decanters to be intricately decorated; organic coatings (opaque or translucent); hot stamping; and, from next year, frosted finishes.

The construction project began in July 2017 and took 327 days to complete. This feat was made possible thanks to the engineering teams working in France and on site, but also to all the Mexican partners involved.

The launch of operations at the plant began in June and was based on bringing together Mexican employees and their colleagues from France and the United Arab Emirates to ensure a smooth start for both glass and decoration plants.

The venture created 380 new local jobs and, over time, the relocation of 20 French employees to Mexico.

The Saverglass Mexico site enables the glassmaker to have a manufacturing presence on three continents, to sell within 80 countries to over 26,000 customers, and to produce 120 million additional bottles each year.

More than 400 customers, staff and friends from around the world attended the opening ceremony.

This included the Governor of the State of Jalisco, Mr. Jorge Aristóteles Sandoval and the Minister of Economic Development for the State of Jalisco, Mr. José Palacios, as well as Mr. Loïc Quentin de Gromard, CEO of the Saverglass Group.