Vetropack Straža marks completion of furnace reconstruction with traditional last brick ceremony

21.11.2024: On Thursday, November 21st, the final brick was ceremoniously driven into the crown of the flint furnace at Vetropack Straža, marking the symbolic end of the reconstruction phase and an important milestone for the factory.

The ceremony was officiated by the patrons of the furnace: Minister of Environment and Green Transition Marija Vučković, Managing Director Darko Šlogar, Finance Director Marija Špiljak and Production Director Božo Hršak who used a special mallet to drive the final brick into place. The official program continued inside the furnace, where it will soon hold around 500 tons of molten glass ready for production. 

The furnace modernisation project, that started on September 2nd, 2024 and involved over 300 external workers daily, introduced state-of-the-art technology to enhance production capacity and reduce environmental impact. As Vetropack Straža prepares to produce flint glass in December, this investment sets new standards in efficiency and sustainability for the glass packaging industry. 

Increased capacity and greater energy efficiency thanks to modern melting tank 

One highlight of the modernisation is the use of an NIS glass-blowing machine with servo drive – the first machine of its kind for Vetropack Straža d.d. An optimised layout throughout the plant has improved the overall production flow. These innovations not only safeguard Vetropack's high quality standards, but also ensure long-term production and energy efficiency. 

The modernised facility is designed to reduce energy consumption and emissions, which helps minimise the carbon footprint and supports Vetropack's sustainability goals. In addition, the new furnace also increases the throughput ratio, enabling the production of more glass per square metre – saving space and costs. I am proud and looking forward to the first glass production with the new machine,“ says Mario Berc, Technical Manager at Vetropack Straža d.d. “The commissioning is a significant milestone for us!“

Read more about the technological innovation and how the production will increase efficiency: NIS machines increase efficiency