Owens-Illinois Inc. received a $3 million research-and-development grant from the State of Ohio to help the company expand its R & D facilities in collaboration with the College of Engineering at the University of Toledo.

The grant was issued June 25 by the Ohio Industrial Research and Development Center Program, a division of the state’s Third Frontier Economic Development Program focused on spurring the development of new R & D centers in Ohio.

O-I is developing plans to use the grant to expand its global research facilities in Perrysburg. The company claims it has made significant investments in glass manufacturing and product research and development, adding new labs and expanding its staff to include more glass researchers and scientists.

O-I will use the center to develop innovative manufacturing processes with much higher efficiencies, advanced materials suitable for these processes, and advanced sensor technology for accurate process control and optimization. The company is expecting to develop stronger, lighter glass and more sustainable packaging systems.

O-I committed to create 45 new jobs in Ohio as a result of this award, according to the press release issued June 25 by the Ohio Department of Development.

The Ohio Third Frontier Industrial Research and Development Center Program (IRDCP) is designed to attract and build high-quality, large, nationally designated and highly visible corporate, nonprofit or federal research and development centers or laboratory facilities to Ohio.

Based in Perrysburg, O-I is the world’s largest manufacturer of glass containers for many of the leading food and beverage brands, according to the company, which employs more than 24,000 people at 81 plants in 21 countries.

Toledo Chamber receives state grant for internship program

Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce was awarded a $428,571 grant from the Ohio Third Frontier Internship Program. The grant will be used to help local companies hire interns with the matching funds program through the chamber.

The state program is working with various partners to develop a pool of talented workers for Ohio companies and exposing students to the strategies and processes of business environments. The goal of the program is to help Ohio expand its technologically proficient workforce and retain knowledgeable and talented students in the state by creating potential employment opportunities following graduation.

For more information, contact the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce at (419) 243-8191.

Tags: Duane Ramsey, Ohio Third Frontier Economic Development Program, Owens-Illinois, research-and-development grant, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 26th, 2012 at 7:10 am and is filed under Development, Toledo Business Link.
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