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.
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