High technology for ultra-lightweight bottles

Spumador (Refresco Group) marks an important milestone in the sector by installing the complete latest generation Sidel Matrix line equipped with solutions for packaging liquid foods.

The Sidel Matrix line, now operational at Spumador’s Caslino (CO) works, currently produces the new ultra-light 0.5 l bottle (capacity 40,000 bottles/h) with lower stopper and neck.
As Spumador plant manager Massimo Guffanti noted, the investment fully responded to the objectives that the company has set itself: The search for a high-productivity line for ultra-lightweight 0.5 l bottles for water providing maximum competitivity in providing single dose containers, total flexibility to be able to pack sparkling and natural water on the same line and freedom of choice of packaging formats.

The new solution from the timehonoured manufacturer Sidel (Tetra Laval Group) includes a Sidel Combi Matrix, a Sidel Matrix Rollfed labeling system and a very flexible end of line: challenging convention in the production of PET containers, in addition to significant technological improvements that allow a high level of performance, the modular Sidel Matrix system ensures a reduced environmental impact.
 
Lightness and efficiency. Spumador and Sidel are dually focussing together on targeting economy of scale and overall reduction of CO2 emissions: the downgauging of the bottles hence fell perfectly within these plans. The new 0.5 l bottle has been designed for carbonated water - where the key element is the mechanical airtightness - reducing the amount of raw material used but without altering the mechanical properties of the container. «The project has allowed us to formulate a custom format for natural water, a 0.5 l bottle weighing just 9.7 g, one of the lightest on the Italian market», explains Guffanti. «Our new bottle has a low neck and a superlight cap, weighing a mere single gram, and it is also pleasant to touch». Production costs are low and allow the brand to maintain high competitivity levels in this field.

A solution beyond expectations. To produce this light bottle at high speed, Spumador opted for the the Sidel Combi Matri integrated blowing, filling and capping machine as the best solution. Thanks to the neck gripping system for the transfer between blowing and filling, this system is not for example hampered by the limitations imposed by air conveyors. In addition, its overall efficiency, compact size, ergonomic design, simplified maintenance and reduced energy consumption lead to real cost reductions.
Combined with Sidel’s new generation PET labeling solutions, the chosen line-up ensures high production efficiency. The Sidel Matrix Rollfed system also increases productivity thanks to its fast label application. Lastly, resorting to a lean process, Sidel installed the line in just two months with the aim of reaching an annual production level of 160 million bottles.

SPUMADOR Originally producer of carbonated soft drinks, the Spumador Group expanded to the mineral water market in 1966 with the acquisition of Fonte S. Antonio, followed by the buy-up of other spring mineral water companies in in 1990. In 2011 Spumador became part of the Refresco Group, leader in Europe in the production of soft drinks (carbonated beverages, fruit juices, aromatised water and mineral water).
In Italy Spumador provides co-packing services for private labels and produces up to 1,200 different products in various sizes and formats under its own brand, this over a total of 23 bottling lines in five works. The beverages are packaged in various materials, including PET, glass and aluminum.