K Show Report: New machine raises bar for bottle production

SIG Coroplast has launched its new Blomax 24 Series III family of stretch-blow machines for PET bottle production. Based on its Blomax 20 series machine, the new machine is capable of producing up to 43,200 bottles per hour, an increase of nearly 10,000 bottles per hour compared to the 20 series. The increase in capacity comes with no increase in the machines footprint, according to Dr. Olaf Weiland, managing director, SIG Coroplast GmbH & Co.
At a press conference Weiland reported that the PET beverage market remains the highest growing segment of the beverage packaging market, with growth expected to average about 8% annually through 2010. Weiland noted that substantial future in the carbonated segment of the market depended on new PET barrier technologies being introduced in smaller single-serve containers.