FAQs

Henri Berthe, CEO of Rockwood, China’s biggest French-owned glass and ceramic bottle manufacturing company, stated that “Unlimited gas availability, limitless production capacity, freight rates expected to drop to pre-pandemic rates, and a workforce eager to resume optimal performance, make China a key player in the relief of the global glass supply crisis.”

Rockwood Glass provides:

• Efficient turnaround times with unmatched speed-to-market from bottle conception to production and delivery.
• Diligent European standards and French leadership coupled with:
  • Lower Chinese production costs.
  • Low minimum order quantities (20,000 units for glass bottles).
  • Molds cost less than one-tenth of the prices found in Europe and the USA.
  • International sales in over 80 countries.
  • Flexibility and reactivity to client requests.

China is consistently ramping up production to meet rising global demands in glass, which otherwise risk remaining unfulfilled.

Henri Berthe states that in 2022, in anticipation and quick reactivity to the crisis, the European-owned glass company in Shanghai built numerous new furnaces, created new production lines, and increased capacity by approximately 100,000 tons.

Check out this blog post for more information on how China is coming to the rescue of the global glass production crisis. 

Glass bottles have been used for centuries due to their durability and longevity. Glass is a hard, brittle, and transparent material that is resistant to many chemicals and does not react with them. This makes glass bottles an ideal container for a wide range of consumable substances, such as spirits, liquors, beverages, perfumes, foods, and medicines.

One of the key features of good quality glass bottles is how break and heat-resistant they are. Glass bottles can withstand high temperatures and pressures without deforming, cracking, or shattering, making them suitable for use in testing environments. They are also resistant to scratches and abrasions, which helps to maintain their appearance and functionality over time.

Glass does not absorb or retain flavors or odors from its surrounding environment due to being non-porous. This makes it an ideal material for preserving the quality and taste of its contents.

Finally, glass is an environmentally friendly option due to its properties being 100% recyclable. It can be recycled any number of times, making it a sustainable and durable choice.

Flint glass is a type of clear, colorless glass that is commonly used in the manufacturing of bottles, jars, and other containers. It is a high-quality, lead-free glass that is known for its clarity and cost-effectiveness. Super-flint glass, also known as extra-flint glass, is a type of flint glass that has a higher degree of clarity and brilliance. At Rockwood Glass, super-flint bottles tend to be heavier and with a deeper base (or slug), measuring 20-30mm, and are the number one choice of premium spirit brands for their vodka, cognac, brandy, and whisky. They also have a lower miminum order quantity (MOQ) than flint.

The primary difference between flint and super-flint glass is the amount of silica used in the manufacturing process. Flint glass is made with a mixture of silica, soda ash, and lime, while super-flint glass is made with a higher percentage of silica. This gives super-flint glass its increased clarity, making it ideal for applications that require exceptionally clear and brilliant glass, such as fine spirits, liquors, and high-end perfumes and cosmetics.

Super-flint glass is more expensive to produce than flint glass due to the higher cost of the raw materials and the more complex manufacturing process. Its superior quality however makes it a worthwhile investment for products that require premium packaging.

Yes, it is possible to have a trademark or logo embossed or debossed on a glass bottle. Rockwood Glass does this at no extra cost, adding the design to the initial bottle mold. Embossing refers to a process in which the logo or design is raised above the surface of the glass, while debossing creates an impression that is recessed into the glass. Both methods can create a unique and eye-catching design on the bottle. This can be a great way to add a distinctive touch to your product and help it stand out on shop shelves. Not all designs are possible on glass, (contrary to ceramic bottles which have more creative options), so feel free to send us your idea and we will confirm whether it can be embossed or debossed on your bespoke glass bottle.

There are numerous types of decoration available to further customize the design of a bespoke glass bottle. Rockwood Glass clients can decide on minimalist designs or more sophisticated and detailed décor, such as what is found on the well-known Grey Goose vodka bottle.  

Rockwood Glass uses the following decorative processes:

Ceramic heat transfer printing:

This is a process in which a design is printed onto a special transfer paper using ceramic inks, and then transferred onto a glass or ceramic bottle using heat and pressure. This results in a high-quality, durable image that is resistant to fading and scratching, making it ideal for bespoke glass bottles. The cost of this type of label generally depends on the number of colors used and the size of the printed surface.

Decorative patterns, transparent windows, or an overall color treatment:

Full, partial, or graduated color can be applied via a fine organic (food-safe) spray which is then baked onto the external surface of the glass bottle. We have a portfolio of readily available colors. Alternatively, clients can choose specific colors or pantones. Color can also be added to the glass material itself during production. Although many different glass colors are achievable in this way, production time may be dependent on the schedule for the run of a specific color campaign.

Ancillary décor:

Additional decorative elements can be added such as badges or features made of metal, wood, plastic, wax, or diamante crystals. Embossing and debossing are always an option too.

Partial or full frosting:

This is possible upon request.

Yes, the details of your bespoke glass bottle design can remain confidential. The more reputable Rockwood Glass customers often ask for a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). The NDA protects your intellectual property and ensures that your design is not shared with others without your permission.

We will not make another bottle that imitates your bespoke glass bottle design. The tailor-made design and intellectual property belong to you. This is always respected at Rockwood Glass. Rockwood Glass owner and CEO, Henri Berthe, ensures that all best practices and business ethics are adhered to diligently.

A sample mold for a bespoke glass bottle can be used as an early step in a client’s bottle-development process. It is a cost-effective way for a client to review their design and adjust it before committing to full production. A sample mold is only good for around 5-10 sample pieces.

A production mold is produced only once the final design has been confirmed. This is a full set of production molds that are usable for around 500,000 mass-produced glass bottles. If a mass production mold expires (the quality is depleted) both during or after all bottles have been manufactured, Rockwood Glass will replace it free of charge.

Each of these has a different role to play.

A production mold is made from high-quality, durable materials such as stainless steel or ceramic, and is designed to withstand the high temperatures and pressures of the glass manufacturing process. This ensures that the mold can produce consistent, high-quality bottles at scale. At Rockwood Glass, a full set of production molds can be used for around 500,000 mass-produced glass bottles, before the molds start to lose their quality. Once the mold quality begins to diminish, Rockwood Glass replaces it free of charge.

Glass sample molds and acrylic molds are suitable for small-scale or experimental production runs. They enable a client to see the exact shape of a bottle, before finalizing the bespoke glass bottle design. These molds are not recommended for larger-scale production due to their limited durability and potential for inaccuracies in the final product.

Making a glass sample mold at Rockwood Glass carries an additional cost of 1,500 USD and a lead time of 35 days. 5-10 fully decorated glass bottles are produced from this mold. An acrylic mold carries an additional cost of 650 USD and a lead time of 12 days. Just 1 bottle sample is made from this. The difference is that the glass mold looks and feels like the final product, while the acrylic mold provides a representation of the shape and design, without the glass properties and decor.

In the event that a client is simply migrating their production to a Rockwood Glass factory in China from a manufacturer elsewhere, and they are already happy with their existing design, there may be no need to go through the sampling process. Advancing directly to the production mold will save the client money and time that would otherwise be spend on the sample mold. 

Rockwood Glass is China’s first French-owned glass and ceramic bottle manufacturer. Multi-tiered quality control (QC) of European standards is diligently enforced across our 6 production lines for glass bottles made of flint, super flint, and black glass, our 1 line dedicated to cobalt blue bottles, and the 8th line to miniature glass bottles. All products are individually examined by post-annealing inspectors, and controlled for thickness, glass dimensions, and possible defects. Our clients receive thick, clear, premium quality glass which is free of impurities. 

If you have specific inspection criteria that differ from the ones regularly enforced, we can create bespoke quality processes that meet your requirements. Additionally, you are welcome to visit and inspect the glass bottle production lines during the manufacturing phase of your bottles. This can be facilitated via your account manager at Rockwood Glass.

Click here for a video of quality control management for glass bottles. 

As is the case in all bottle manufacturing plants, some dust or other contaminants can potentially enter the glass bottles. For this reason, they should always be cleaned prior to filling.

It is possible to fit approximately 25,000 standard 750ml glass bottles in a 40HQ (high cube) container assuming that they are packed in cartons on pallets. Approximately 27,000 glass bottles if they are floor-stacked. For more complicated shaped 750ml bottles, this figure can drop to around 22,000 in cartons.

An example of smaller capacity bottles would be standard 12 oz (354ml) beer bottles. Approximately 60,000 of these can fit in a 40HQ.

Please contact Rockwood Glass for detailed information regarding bottling. 

No, there is no legal requirement to stipulate “China” anywhere on your product following filling at the Rockwood Glass bottling factory.

Our bottling factory is in an Export Processing Zone (EPZ or duty-free zone) just South of Shanghai. For this reason, even though the country of origin of the alcohol and the name of the importer must appear on your labels, you are not required to define the location in which the bottling took place. 

Upon request, we can provide you with an extensive list of products that we bottle and ship to the USA and numerous other countries.

No, you won’t. The Rockwood Glass bottling (filling) plant is located in an Export Processing Zone (EPZ or tax-free zone) on the port of Zhapu/Ningbo, just South of Shanghai. For this reason, the products that come in and out are exempt from taxes.

Yes, foreign authorities always approve our products without any problems. We have hundreds of products already approved by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). We are happy to take you through all the steps of the approval process. Ann Morse is our TTB specialist in Washington (ex-TTB agent). She is very efficient and knowledgeable.

Rockwood Glass pushes creativity in glass bottle design to its limits, creating unique bespoke pieces for our clients. Glass does however have more limitations than ceramic. The extent to which a ceramic bottle can be made-to-measure and respond to a particular branding strategy is what makes luxury ceramic bottles so sought after. Ceramic is a very versatile and durable material that can be tailored to a client’s and designer’s imagination. Whether you are looking for a discrete and minimalist design or an eccentric and striking bottle, the possibilities are endless. Rockwood Ceramics is at the epicenter of the trending niche market for premium ceramic bottles. Contact Rockwood Ceramics to find out more. 

R stands for Rockwood. It is encased in a triangle that embodies balance.

Three sides to symbolize:

• Rockwood’s strong foundations for the future

• A connection to its entrepreneurial past

• Dedication to its present mission

The R is representative of a brand that is synonymous with artistry, craftsmanship, and excellence. A company in constant evolution, yet consistent in its delivery of superior glass and ceramic bottle quality.

So, is your bottle a Rockwood original? Feel under its base for this beautifully embossed design.

Yes. Rockwood designs and manufactures premium quality perfume bottles that break the mold in design tradition. Our tailor-made perfume bottles embody creativity and craftsmanship that will set your brand apart. They can be created in glass or ceramic. 

Check out our perfume bottle portfolio for more information.