Glass Bottle Manufacturer Selects Georgia for First U.S. Plant

A new factory in southern Georgia is expected to employ more than 150 workers producing glass bottles for the spirits and beverage industry, state economic development officials announced Friday.

Arglass Yamamura, a joint venture between Nihon Yamamura Glass Co. and investment firm Cambium Arglass, plans to invest $123 million to build its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Valdosta. The company cited the area’s skilled workforce, education infrastructure, affordability, and proximity to the East Coast as factors in its decision.

José de Diego-Arozamena, the head of Cambium Arglass and CEO of the joint venture, said the site “will allow us to run a very flexible, efficient, and cost-effective manufacturing operation.”

The company said construction will begin this month. The factory is expected to be fully operational, with a production capacity of 265 million units per year, beginning in early 2021.

Arglass Yamamura, according to its website, eventually hopes a network of next-generation plants throughout the U.S. will “transform the glass container market” in the country.