A new glass furnace—Furnace No. 3, the most advanced and high-tech facility at the Rubin glass plant—was officially inaugurated in Pleven. The event coincided with the 60th anniversary of the company's founding and became a symbol not only of technological progress but also of long-term commitment to the industry and the region.

As of now, all of the plant’s furnaces are entirely new, thanks to a 250 million BGN investment made with the support of Postbank. The new furnace has created 150 new jobs, bringing the total number of employees at the plant to over 600 and ensuring at least 15 years of sustainable industrial presence in Northwestern Bulgaria.

The symbolic lighting of the new furnace was carried out by four key figures: Mr. Alexander Sorg, Managing Partner at Nikolaus Sorg; Mr. Werner Gesner from Emhart Glass; Mr. Asen Yagodin, CEO of Postbank—the institution that backed the company's entire investment program; and Mr. Nikolay Mochev, CEO of Rubin.

The ceremony was blessed by His Eminence Metropolitan Antony, who conducted a water-blessing ritual in the presence of official guests.

The event was attended by top-level representatives from the global glass industry. Among the guests were leading German companies and project partners—Nikolaus Sorg, Emhart Glass, EME, Pennekamp, MSK, and Excelsius—companies that set technological standards in the sector.

“In a year when Rubin celebrates 60 years of history, we have the honor of launching Furnace No. 3. Beyond being a high-tech achievement, it is a statement of our confidence in the future of Bulgarian industry,” emphasized CEO Nikolay Mochev.

Alexander Sorg, Managing Partner of Nikolaus Sorg GmbH & Co. KG, stated: “This is the third installation we’ve built for Rubin. We work excellently with our partners here. It’s an ambitious project that places the factory at a very high level. This is an important investment for Europe and for Bulgaria.”

Mr. Florian Ehrenfels, who leads the SKS and Excelsius teams, shared: “I’m pleased to start production with our Bulgarian partner using an entirely new technology. It allows glass to be produced at an operating temperature of 1350°C. A completely new burner philosophy is used—this is the latest technology on the market. This is the future.”

Rubin has proven that industry in Bulgaria can be modern, competitive, and strategically significant—when backed by vision, partnerships, and long-term investments.

Mr. Alexander Sorg, Managing Partner of Nikolaus Sorg; Mr. Werner Gesner, Vice President of Emhart Glass; Mr. Asen Yagodin, CEO of Postbank; and Mr. Nikolay Mochev, CEO of Rubin, symbolically press the ignition button for the new Float Furnace No. 3—a key moment in the official ceremony in Pleven.