The PET water packaging sector is always open to new technological challenges, mainly oriented towards environmental sustainability and efficiency.
The market requires research into more energy-efficient production methods, the ability to recycle materials and innovative design, factors capable of improving the functionality and attractiveness of bottles.
In light of these aspects, we focus on the case history concerning the Portuguese company Sociedade da Agua de Monchique, through the analysis of its needs, objectives that led it to choose SIPA as a partner for the bottling of a very particular type of water, without forgetting the additional benefits deriving from this collaboration.
Sociedade da Agua de Monchique has been managing the public concession of the water source of the same name since 16 December 1992 and today is one of the major players in the Portuguese market.
The company draws from a 900-meter-deep spring in Caldas de Monchique, offering water with a high level of mineralization and a pH of 9.5, among the most alkaline on the market.
The production and logistics facilities are located in Caldas de Monchique, in a protected area of over 50 hectares, where the preservation of aquifers is an essential factor as well as involving logistics based on strict environmental sustainability criteria.
The company's production unit occupies an area of 4,332 square meters where the plant, water tanks, warehouse for packaging and packaged products and the laboratory for microbiological analysis are located.
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In 2015, Agua de Monchique needed to increase the production of bottled water with its brand through innovative technological solutions, able to fit into the reduced production spaces of the plant.
The main need was, therefore, to find a partner for PET packaging capable of enhancing the quality of alkaline water, providing advanced systems, with high production speed, but also timely assistance, operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Other requirements for the company include the ability to provide a design that matches the quality of the products, a compact layout and low weight.
After a careful analysis of the market, the top management of Sociedade da Agua de Monchique chose SIPA solutions.
In detail, the two manufacturing systems selected are capable of producing bottles in seven different formats. The "standard" Monchique range is available in five sizes, from 340 ml up to 5 liters, all with attractive designs in optics.
The XTRA 8-cavity rotary blow moulding machine produces the smallest formats, in synchronisation with a Flextronic S filler, also from SIPA, equipped with 20 filling valves for a throughput of 20,000 b/h.
For larger formats, in particular 5L bottles, the SFL 6/4 XL linear blow moulding machine was also supplied in SincroBloc configuration with SIPA Bigfill volumetric gravity filler. These formats stand out for their low weight, validated at 66 and 64 g, therefore about 10 g less than the standard used by competitors within the Portuguese market.
The premium “Chic” range is available in 500mL and 1L sizes. From a design point of view, they have a minimalist look, in four colors: crystal, cobalt blue, red and turquoise.
With a view to sustainability, Agua Monchique originally set itself the goal of using 25% rPET by 2025, but exceeded its goal a few years ahead of schedule since, for the production of the various formats, 30% recycled PET is used.
Now the company is working to get to 100% rPET.
SIPA was appreciated not only for its cutting-edge technology, but also for the speed of delivery times, being able to install its very high efficiency machines in the small spaces that Agua Monchique had available.
The additional factor appreciated by the Portuguese company is the after-sales technical assistance received, both through online systems and through SIPA development consultancy.
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The partnership with SIPA has allowed Agua de Monchique to position itself as a pioneer of innovation within the market, with the ability to reach ever new goals, such as the new NATURA bottle, without labels, the result of SIPA's latest generation technologies.