Challenge.
Sidel and Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) have a long history of partnership and have been working together for over 30 years on various projects related to equipment, packaging development and support services. CCEP was faced with the technical challenges of introducing the attached closure technology and implementing a lightweight neck, which required selecting the right preforms, closures and equipment configurations to change all existing PET packaging lines in Europe. To address these challenges, CCEP turned to Sidel for help with their conversion project to achieve their main goal of introducing a new 1g lighter neck and attached lid.
Solution.
The pre-planning phase was crucial to the success of this large-scale conversion project. To validate the new lid attachment and the lighter neck of the GME30.40, pilot tests were carried out on Sidel's converted line in Barcelona. Sidel and CCEP worked closely together during the line testing to evaluate equipment performance, quality requirements and customer acceptance. Sidel also combined the line conversion and overhaul, while CCEP provided maintenance for optimal product realisation and maximum productivity. Following successful pilot tests, Sidel converted CCEP lines at plants across Europe, adapting equipment and configurations to handle the attached caps and new necks, with each plant requiring specific adjustments based on Sidel's thorough study of their unique machine configurations.
Result.
Sidel has successfully converted one-third of CCEP's European bottling lines to PET bottles, with the conversion of all lines scheduled to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2024. CCEP and Sidel working together on the project was a key success factor, and CCEP launched the first bottles in the UK on time in May 2022. CCEP was one of the first to convert to attached closures in the carbonated beverage market, converting its many lines across the EU. The first conversion took place in April 2022 in East Kilbride, Scotland, to produce CCEP's 1.5-litre bottles, followed by a second line conversion for single-use bottles by the end of 2022.
"Most of the redesigned lines have achieved their efficiency targets. We are fully satisfied with the preparations, including the equipment condition assessment, pilot tests and excellent cooperation, that have enabled this project to be realised.”
Gert Marsé
Technical Packaging Lead в Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
Technology of attached lids
Ukrainian beverage companies should also pay attention to the requirements of EU legislation, as " European Parliament Directive 2019/904" comes into force in July 2024, where attached closures are a mandatory requirement for PET packaging. For more information, please contact the sales engineers of STEINER Ukraine , an authorised partner of Sidel in Ukraine - by phone +380 44 390 73 38 or simply in messenger.