Glass firm may build headquarters in Millville

Mayor Jim Quinn, who thanked Rock for investing in the glass container business in Millville, expressed hope that the headquarters will be located here.

Rock, of Versailles, Ky., and Ocean City, told the Millville Industrial Commission that the purchase of Alcan's Molded Glass operations in September includes two plants and the new mold shop in Millville; decorating plants in Mays Landing and Williamstown, and a plant in Missouri, with a combined employment of 1,650 people.

The Millville operations employ 678 of the total number. The Mays Landing and Williamstown decorating plants have a total of 242 employees combined, Rock said.

The Glass Group also owns 45.7 percent of Beijing-Wheaton Co. in China.

Rock, who was president of Wheaton Glass Products for five years during the '90s, said he was also former vice chairman of the Beijing-Wheaton Co. board.

Rock and his partner, Leonard Nave, own 90 percent of The Glass Group, said Rock, who has more than 30 years of experience in the glass business.

Providing the group with an insight as to what is being produced by the company, Rock said that there are three major fields: cosmetics, pharmaceutical and general line containers.

"We are the largest manufacturer of small specialty molded glass containers in the United States," Rock said.

"I have been spending a lot of time in the marketplace this past year, especially the cosmetics business, meeting with presidents and vice presidents of the companies," Rock said. He noted that he has been well received.

In the pharmaceutical field, the company has 50 percent of the molded glass container business, Rock said.

The general line small specialty molded glass containers includes small containers for foods, such as the Tabasco jar, which Rock said is in every military pack.

Rock said that he believes there is an area of opportunity for increasing productivity and was very upbeat about the future of The Glass Group in Millville.

Rock said that he has brought in a team with a combined experience of 150 years in the business.

"We will periodically come and tell you what we are doing and will open up the plants for tours," Rock said.

"I am very pleased with the interaction that we have had with the team," said Don Ayres, Millville executive director of economic development. "They have experience in the glass container industry, and I am impressed with their commitment to the operation here.

We look forward to working hand-in-hand with them."