Finland's Only Glass Bottle Plant Closing
Image: Juha-Pekka Inkinen / YLE
The American O-I company has announced the closure of Finland's only glass bottle manufacturing plant in Kotka. Formerly known as Karhulan Lasi, the plant was the first to manufacture vases designed by Alvar Aalto.
In its recent history, the Karhula factory has been manufacturing the distinctive Finlandia Vodka bottles. The company blames over capacity on European markets for the plant's demise.
The Karhula Glass Factory employs around 100 people. Glass manufacturing ends this summer with silk screen print operations terminating next year.
It is expected that manufacture of Finlandia vodka bottles will continue in either Estonia or the Netherlands.
The Karhula Glass Factory started operations in 1889 mainly as a manufacturer of commercial and medicinal bottles. Later it was the home of Savoy vases designed by Alvar Aalto. The company passed into American ownership in 1995.
YLE