Britvic PET Stretch/Blow Moulding Facility Upgrade, Norwich, United Kingdom

Britvic, one of the UK's leading soft drinks manufacturers, is updating its existing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) lines at their Norwich facility. The company took delivery of two BLOMAX 12 Series III stretch-blow moulding machines early in 2003; these were supplied and installed by SIG Corpoplast of Hamburg in April 2003.

BLOMAX 12 SERIES III

The BLOMAX 12 Series III machines are equipped with 12 cavity moulds, custom-designed by SIG Moldtec, and have been used almost exclusively for the manufacture of PET bottles for the Robinsons Fruit Shoot brand, which is retailed in 250ml bottles. The success of the Fruit Shoot brand has been put down to the innovative brand-specific PET bottle. The line has been producing PET bottles at a rate of more than 32,000 bottles per hour for both machines.

BLOMAX 16 SERIES III

In August 2003, Britvic ordered two new stretch blow moulding machines, BLOMAX 16 Series III, to increase its PET bottle production capacity and efficiency at the Norwich facility. The two new machines are used to produce bottles for Robinsons fruit-squash-type drinks, including its barley water products. The machines were supplied and installed by SIG Corpoplast at the end of 2003.

This installation enabled Britvic to meet the inevitably increased product demand for the end-of-year festivities. The new machines are dedicated to the production of 1l bottles of Robinsons fruit squash. The two BLOMAX machines supplied to Britvic was a milestone for SIG Corpoplast as this was the hundredth Series III machine it has supplied since the launch in 2001.

AIR COMPRESSORS AND AIR CONVEYERS

Britvic is extremely pleased with its relationship with SIG Corpoplast, the supplier and installer of the BLOMAX stretch blow moulders. Chris Spray, project manager of Britvic, praises the service/support and project management provided by SIG Corpoplast.

The original installation also included air compressors and air conveyors to complete the production line. The original two BLOMAX 12 Series IIIs have shown low energy consumption and very low maintenance costs. The maintenance requires daily lubrication and a once-per-year service from SIG Corpoplast.

BRITVIC

Britvic is a leading producer of soft drinks in the UK and Europe. It sells 1.1 billion litres of ready-to-drink soft drinks per year. The company provides drinks in 400 different flavours, shapes and sizes and supplies more than 250,000 retailers. Some of the brands it is responsible for are Ame, Aqua Libre, Idris, Purdey's, R Whites, Shandy Bass, Tango, 7UP and Pepsi (franchise holders since 1987).

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