Verallia, the world’s third-largest producer of glass packaging for beverages and food products, has inaugurated a new oxy-combustion furnace equipped with HeatOx™ technology, an innovative solution from IFRF member- Air Liquide. HeatOx™ preheats oxygen to 550°C and natural gas to 450°C using furnace exhaust gases. This improves thermal efficiency and reduces oxygen and fuel consumption. A high boosting system supplements the process with electrical energy, reducing fossil fuel use during the melting process. The innovation aims to reduce carbon emissions by up to 20% compared to conventional furnaces.

Installed at its Campo Bom plant in Rio Grande do Sul, the €111 million investment marks a major milestone in Verallia’s growth strategy in Brazil, reflecting the Group’s long-term vision and commitment to sustainable innovation.

The furnace integrates state-of-the-art production systems, increasing Campo Bom’s capacity to 820 tonnes of glass per day and introduces three production lines. To support this expansion, Verallia has already created 108 new jobs, with the combined Campo Bom 1 and Campo Bom 2 sites now employing 267 people.

“With the Campo Bom furnace, Verallia will double its installed capacity in Rio Grande do Sul, reinforcing our role as a strategic partner to the Brazilian wine industry”, said Quintin Testa, Latin America General Manager of Verallia. 

The project is developed in close collaboration with local and regional authorities, further positioning Verallia as a long-term industrial partner in Rio Grande do Sul and showcasing the value of public-private cooperation for regional innovation and growth.

“This investment by Verallia in Campo Bom results from a strong partnership with the State Government, which provided essential support through Fundopem to make this new operation possible” said Governor of Rio Grande do Sul State, Eduardo Leite.