SIPA enhances affordability and sustainability in large PET bottle production

SIPA’s research & development team has engineered what it is describing as a ground-breaking large-format PET mineral water bottle that offers significant cost savings and environmental benefits.

The eight-litre bottle features a 38-mm neck, identical to the five-litre version. This design streamlines production processes, enabling swift transitions between the two sizes and minimising downtime, SIPA says.

Traditionally, large bottle manufacturers have utilised wider necks for 8-litre formats (typically 48 mm, also used for 10-litre bottles). This necessitates changing both the bottle body mould and the neck mould during format switches, resulting in increased production time. SIPA says its novel approach eliminates this issue by utilising a 38-mm neck for both five-litre and eight-litre bottles.

SIPA notes that the design offers several advantages:

• reduced preform weight: 38-mm neck preforms are approximately 6 grammes lighter than their 48-mm counterparts, resulting in lower material costs.
• increased preform availability: 38-mm neck preforms are more readily available in the market.
• simplified cap sourcing: caps for 38-mm necks are easier to procure.

SIPA’s design team has incorporated an aesthetically pleasing and functional wave pattern into the 8-litre bottle. This pattern optimises the preform stretch ratio, enhancing the bottle’s top load and side load resistance — critical factors for large-format containers.

This intricate design was realised through the adaptability of SIPA’s SFL linear stretch-blow moulding platform. The SFL Dynamic 2H can produce up to 1100 bottles per hour per cavity, and other models like the SFL Performance 3H, SFL Big 4, and SFL Maxi 3 are also compatible with these bottle sizes.

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