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Universal selling universally

In April 2005, following three years of research and development, Sidel unveiled its new generation SBO Universal™ blow molding equipment at the Interpack show in Dusseldorf, Germany.  Initially, the Universal™ equipment range featured four machine models.  Those models promised a 20 percent reduction in blow molding costs thanks to machine advances and the development of new “bottle solutions”, and a 23 percent gain in productivity with outputs of up to 1,800 bottles per mold per hour.

Sixty-five percent of total PET blow molding capacity sold worldwide
The first SBO Universal™ was sold to the world’s top PET bottle manufacturer, Amcor, in the United States.  By January 2006, the 100th Universal™ machine had been sold to Spanish mineral water producer Aguas Pascal as part of a Combi system. The 400th UniversalTM machine will be part of a complete Combi line sold in Europe.  Altogether, these 400 machines represent over 6,000 blowing cavities and a production capacity of 10 million bottles per hour.  In the past two years, Sidel has supplied 65 percent of total PET bottle blow molding capacity sold around the world.

And the equipment has delivered on its initial promises of superior performance, output and productivity.  In fact, 75 percent of all installed Universal™ machines are running at 1,800 bottles per hour, per mold.  The remaining 25 percent are used for applications such as heat resistant packaging, preferential heating or packages larger than 2 liters, which limit output.  But the SBO Universal™ has proven that incorporating this equipment into complete beverage packaging lines improves overall line performance.

Twenty-eight models
Sidel has continued to build its Universal™ portfolio, adding the SBO 6 and 8 models in September 2005 and the SBO 26 and 30 in 2006 to offer customers more output options.  It has also added applications with the launch of the SBO Universal™ HR (heat resistant) in 2006 to produce hot filled and pasteurized bottles and the SBO Universal™ PH (preferential heating) to produce flat bottles.  The crown jewel in Sidel’s Universal™ range, the SBO 30 HR, can produce hot fill packages at 90°C at in line speeds of up to 51,000 bottles per hour.

Today, the Universal™ range boasts 28 different machine models and covers a broad range of market segments including still and sparkling water, carbonated and sensitive drinks, sauces and detergents.  The best-selling model, the SBO 20, is sold in line or as part of a Combi system and produces 36,000 bottles per hour primarily for water and CSD applications.  Sales of the SBO 14 (at 25,000 bottles per hour) are running closely behind the SBO 20.

A full menu of choices
To meet market demand, the Universal™ family tree has branched out, adding two new blow molding machine ranges.  The SBO Compact, with its linear kinematics, is designed for outputs below 7,000, and the Highspeed range is designed for single-serve water and CSD packages (0.7 liters maximum).  Sidel’s Highspeed equipment comes in two models: the SBO 24 and 34 (with output rates up to 61,200 bottles per hour).  Both equipment ranges feature SBO UniversalTM technology and are backed by Sidel service and expertise available around the world.

Innovations on tap for K 2007 trade fair
Sidel continues to focus on innovation to enhance machine performance and expand its blow molding machine range.  The Group will present its latest developments at the K 2007 trade fair, October 24-31 in Dusseldorf.  New container capacities (up to 10 liters), lighter bottles, new packaging materials (PLA), new control systems, and an automatic blow molding process regulation technology will all be on display.  These advances confirm Sidel’s position as the world leader in blow molding with the most comprehensive equipment offering available.

The Sidel Group is one of the world’s leading suppliers of equipment for beverage packaging.  The company employs 5,000 people around the world and is a division of Tetra Laval.