Innovation and
intellectual property

Innovation strategy and portfolio, process innovation with suppliers

Management approach

Vetropack focuses on product, process and organisational innovations that are designed to ensure it can continue to meet customer requirements in future with innovative, environmentally compatible and high-quality products, and thus safeguard the company’s long-term business success. To this end, Vetropack also continually monitors developments relating to the circular economy, digitalisation, automation, the climate targets for 2050 and the needs and requirements of customers. Within the framework of its innovation strategy, Vetropack encourages the development of innovations by suppliers, customers and international research associations.

The company’s CEO supports Vetropack’s innovation strategy as an integral component of the Group’s overall strategy. The CEO is assisted here by the General Manager for Technology and Production at Vetroconsult AG, who focuses in particular on the development of process innovations in cooperation with suppliers. The corresponding policies and guidelines are managed by the Corporate Functions department. Cooperation with suppliers is crucial here, as it allows Vetropack and its suppliers to identify ways to improve production operations and jointly develop innovative approaches for achieving such improvements. This collaborative effort focuses on the development of innovations for melting, moulding and inspection processes. Such cooperation leads to a win-win situation, especially in view of the fact that Vetropack does not operate its own R&D department and suppliers also benefit from the jointly developed, additional expertise.

Vetropack implements its own projects as well – one example here being the development and market launch of VIP Glass. The company also actively participates in international research groups such as the International Partners in Glass Research (IPGR) industry association.

All strategic initiatives at Vetropack are reviewed and updated annually. The most important evaluation criteria here include the market performance of the products involved and the annual assessment of the CO2 emissions produced as a result of melting processes at all Vetropack plants. Process innovation projects are evaluated on a monthly and annual basis using performance and quality indicators, whereby the number of critical complaints received also plays a key role.