Swiss firm to rebuild Ukraine glass-making plant

The production plant could be running again by the end of this year, company boss Johann Reiter told Swiss public broadcaster SRF.

+ Amid the bombs, Ukraine remains open for business

The Gostomel plant once employed 600 staff, but two-thirds had to be laid off after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“The outbreak of war in Ukraine was a different dimension [to the coronavirus pandemic),” said Reiter. “Nobody expected the invasion before February 24, 2022.”

Reiter raised a CHF1 million ($1 million) fund to support former employees. The company, which is based in Bülach, canton Zurich, lost CHF31 million when its factory was destroyed.

Vetropack still managed to realise a profit last year thanks to high demand for glass products from factories in Switzerland, Austria and eastern Europe.

Reiter said production could re-start this year provided the area does not come under attack again.