Owens-Illinois Inc. announced recently plans to close its Toronto glass container plant due to the strong Canadian dollar and rising energy costs.

Some 430 employees will be impacted by the Sept. 30 closure. Production at the Toronto plant will be transferred to the company's other facilities, including those in Brampton and Montreal.

Scott Murchison, president of the company's North American division, said the decision to close shop and move production is driven by the firm's "global asset utilization process" which identified ways to lower energy consumption and production costs "while still meeting current and anticipated market needs."

The best way to maximize efficiency was to shift production to other North American facilities, Murchison said.

The company will provide assistance to help employees seeking new jobs.

Owens-Illinois, founded in 1903, produces glass containers for malt beverages, including beer and ready-to-drink low-alcohol refreshers, liquor, wine, food, tea, juice and pharmaceuticals.

The firm currently employs more than 24,000 people and has 82 manufacturing facilities in 22 countries.

Last year, the Perrysburg, Ohio firm recorded net sales of $7.6 billion (U.S.)