APF-6004 blow molder: a new peak for PET Technologies and Sairme Mineral Waters

Another APF-6004 blow molder has reached Sakartvelo (or Georgia), one of the world most ecologically diverse places in the world. Sairme Mineral Waters Ltd brought the equipment and installed it in the very heart of one of the biggest homonymous resorts in Europe. It is the land of high mountains with picturesque slopes; the land of mountainous rivers and springs.

Overview

Sairme waters are known since 1893. In Georgian the name “Sairme” means “the place where deer dwell”. The bottling plant is located in the Western Georgia, 950 m above the sea level, in the Sairme resort. Modern Sairme Mineral Waters Ltd plant was inaugurated in 2006. Since then its spring water, containing unique balanced concentration of calcium, magnesium and sodium, became available far beyond the borders of the resort. Now you can enjoy it in 17 countries of the world!

This is where packaging comes in. The role of bottle increases with distance. The more kilometers are between Sairme plant and final destination of water, the less vulnerable the container should be. Thus, the company fills its products both in glass and PET bottles. Equipment developed by PET Technologies helps to produce the latter.

Benefits

Not long ago Sairme Mineral Waters Ltd expanded its manufacturing facilities and installed APF-6004 blow molder.  What benefits did the company have?

• “turnkey solution” from PET bottles design to start-up and commissioning of APF-6004 blow molder, training of customer’s technical staff and aftersales service;
• mold quick change permits to produce the whole range of bottles from 500 ml to 2 L with one blow molder. In just 20 minutes the company switches from one format to another!
• no downtime: the schedule of maintenance permits to follow it during shift change or days off, electric and pneumatic components of European, US and Japanese brands increase reliability.

Let’s look at this ergonomic bottle! It is transparent with a tint of green that highlights its natural origin, life and energy. Bottle shoulders resemble a drop that forms high in the mountains, in riverhead. This is where Sairme Mineral Waters Ltd collects water.  Narrowing in the center of the bottle looks as if it were a swift running mountainous river.

The applied technology plays crucial role in the manufacturing of this bottle. Intense preform heating and simultaneous air-cooling guarantee uniform temperature distribution between the inner and outer wall. 8-zone heating and availability to move the lamps in any position guarantee that the most complex bottle will meet the predetermined characteristics, even if it is 100% rPET!

Partnership

A quote says that great partnerships thrive because the people need each other. The same happens with the companies. This project is a proof.

The roots of fruitful cooperation between PET Technologies and Sairme Mineral Waters Ltd go back to the year 2015. Then the bottling company looked for a reliable supplier of blow molds for 6 – 10 L bottles. PET Technologies attracted its attention due to the manufacturing facilities equipped with 4-, 5-axis machining centers and guaranteed terms of delivery. Not to mention experience.

The first touch turned out to be successful.

In 2017 we launched the second project together. It was also about blow molds for up to 2 L bottles that Sairme Mineral Waters Ltd installed at automatic PET SBM machine of European brand. They perfectly matched the equipment.

The second touch also turned out to be successful.

It was in 2019 when we reached the peak. Sairme Mineral Waters Ltd chose PET Technologies as a supplier of SBM machine. The bottling company was looking for alternatives instead of the blow molding equipment for small bottles that they had.

Previous successful project for 500 ml, 1.5 L and 2.0 L molds, carried out in 2017, was a strong point in favor of PET Technologies. Moreover, we developed these bottles design together taking into account the nature of blowing process. Thus, Sairme Mineral Waters Ltd obtained both attractive and functional PET bottle.

The third touch, installation of APF-6004 blow molder, also turned out to be successful. Now we continue cooperation and work together on new projects!