SIDEL'S SHORTER NECKS LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS FOR POLISH WATER BOTTLERŻywiec Zdrój recently turned to Sidel for support in switching production to bottles with shorter necks

Producer of several world-famous brands of water Żywiec Zdrój is a subsidiary of Groupe Danone, the French multinational corporation based in Paris, one of the world’s largest and most successful food companies. The Group claims to be the world leader in bottled water, in which it owns several internationally famous brands. These include such well-known names as Danone, as well as Evian, Aqua, Nutricia, Bledina, Dumex, Volvic, Badoit and others. In Asia, the Group has acquired Yili, Aqua (Indonesia) and Robust (92%) and has a 51% holding in China's Wahaha Joint Venture Company.

Right choice for bottles with a shorter neck Short necks on bottles make it possible to reduce the use of raw materials in preform, bottles and caps. This then makes it possible to make significant economic savings and reductions in post-consumer waste. In its attempt to maintain its edge in a highly competitive market, boost efficiency, achieve savings and reduce its carbon footprint, Żywiec Zdrój closely analysed the offer of several contractors. The company duly decided that Sidel, as an organisation, would best suit needs for quality, reactivity and the support needed.

With nearly 22% volume share of the market, Żywiec Zdrój is the leading brand of bottled water in Poland, a subsidiary of Groupe Danone

SOLUTIONS FOR WATER

sidel.com/water

including blow-moulder, filler and capper

Economic savings and reductions in post-

consumer waste

Only four days of stoppage for each line

throughout the changeover

In-house training for technicians

Only four days of stoppage to install each of two bottling linesŻywiec Zdrój collects its spring water high in the mountains and operates three bottling factories, selling approximately 1.2 billion litres of water every year. The company originally became interested in the potential savings possible through conversion, when it learned that switching production to bottles with shorter necks had yielded significant benefits to other producers. The order - for two lines at the northern plant in Miroslawiec - was placed with Sidel, with the supplier promising close collaboration and only four days of stoppage for each line throughout the changeover.

Improved design for achieving substantial growthConversion of the two lines meant changing the 1810 closure on the 21mm high necks being produced to a 1881 closure on a 17mm lightweight neck and preform. Various technical modifications to the existing equipment were required. One such change was the equipping of the blow-moulder not only with transfer grippers and an arm-head kit, but also an upper guide and change-spindle noses. The filler is now equipped with a new centring, neck-rubber. The capper also benefits from a new cap-feeding device, caps chute profile and chucks shape, along with several other minor adaptations. The changes in operation of the two lines covered the possible production of bottles of various sizes for both sparkling and still water, including 0.5, 1.5 and 1.75 litre formats. Modification of the equipment was followed by in-house training for the company’s technicians. After only a few months, Żywiec Zdrój expressed its satisfaction to Sidel, along with its appreciation of the supplier’s expertise in coordination and support. The company also reported a noticeable decrease in annual PET consumption. This, of course, translates into worthwhile economic savings and a reduction in carbon emissions.

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130813 The information in this document contains general descriptions of technical

options available, which do not always have to be present in each individual case. The required features should therefore be specified in each individual case at the time of closing the contract. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the previous written approval of Sidel. All intellectual property rights, including copyright, are reserved by Sidel.

Modifications to two water-bottling lines,

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