Every minute, the world manufactures and sells over a million drinking water bottles, most of which will be used for still mineral water. Euromonitor forecasts that, by 2021, output will increase to over 580 billion bottles a year, a further 20% increase in what has, in recent years, been one of the fastest-growing segments of the global packaging industry.
The world's only competitor with proprietary technology capable of handling every stage of beverage production, Sacmi has responded to this challenge with Heroline; this complete, integrated solution for making lighter, higher-performing bottles provides net savings on raw materials while optimising energy consumption and boosting the logistical efficiency of the entire process.
Thanks to decades of experience with food-grade plastics and its accompanying R&D facilities, Sacmi has developed extremely light, high performing containers. These range from the 200 ml HERO bottle with Exalite 26-22 cap (total weight 5.8 grams, of which 1.9 g are accounted for by the neck) to the 500 and 600 ml formats (total weight 8.4 and 9.9 grams respectively) and the lightweight solutions that minimise PET requirements. While extremely light, the 200 ml Sacmi bottle can withstand, once filled and capped, a peak load of over 230 Newtons, paving the way for further solutions (already being tested at Sacmi's labs) on the standard 25-22 neck to lighten the bottle by at least another gram without affecting performance.
The exclusive technology that goes into Heroline - the dimensional and manufacturing layout of which can be modulated to meet customer-specific needs - includes CCM and IPS. These cap and preform manufacturing solutions can be integrated upstream from bottling thanks to CPB Link, the automatic Sacmi-built magazine that synchronises the two processes to smooth logistics. Thanks to individual elements designed not just to operate as stand-alone solutions but also, and above all, as part of a coordinated system, Sacmi provides added value through overall functional optimisation. It does so by integrating blowing (SBF), filling and labelling downstream from the cap and preform magazine; those phases can be merged on the new all-in-one Heroblock, the new uniquely versatile, compact Sacmi ‘quadblock’ that is ideal for medium output rates.
Each Heroline phase is aided by advanced Sacmi in-line quality control solutions. Moreover, downstream sections can incorporate innovative COLORA CAP digital cap decoration units and D-Match, Sacmi's latest digital labelling solution. The latter has been designed to ensure outstanding versatility of use and maximum personalisation but without the plant complexity that stems from digital printing on pre-labelled containers.
Optimised energy and fluid consumption, a drastic reduction in internal logistics costs (pallets, octabins and relative maintenance) and less storage space are just some of the advantages provided by Sacmi Heroline. The latter offers excellent hygiene standards (an offshoot of fewer handling tasks and a direct consequence of the special storage magazine configuration where caps and preforms are kept in a controlled, positive-pressure atmosphere).
That's why, with Sacmi, manufacturers can move from a set of high-performing stand-alone machines towards a complete system that integrates the process and generates three types of efficiency enhancement: energy, logistical and reduced PET consumption. The latest bottle designs and further ‘super-light’ solutions in the pipeline confirm Sacmi's standing as a global partner to the beverage industry, capable of intercepting further growth opportunities on one of the world's most dynamic markets. A market where innovation makes the difference in terms of both competitiveness and environmental sustainability.