Athena Automation partners with SIPA for PET preforms

In a move designed to expand product range and service organization in the PET market, injection molding machine and automation equipment manufacturer Athena Automation has formalized a partnership with Italy-based plastic container maker SIPA.

According to a press release, SIPA will manage the sales, service, and integration of all Athena PET preform machines on an exclusive worldwide basis. “The goal of the partnership is to use synergies between the two companies to build a leading global product line and service organization,” the release said. “This arrangement strengthens SIPA’s base and rounds up their product line from low cavitation, multi-mold change applications to high-volume production of beverage preforms.”

Vaughan, Ont.-based Athena was founded in 2008 by Robert Schad, founder and former head of Husky Injection Molding Systems. Athena offers a hybrid injection molding platform, with options for customization that include PET systems, in-mold assembly systems, stack mold carriers, and lights-out plant automation.

Athena and SIPA are building on an initial period of cooperation in designing a product line for making preforms, the release continued. “This past year at the NPE exhibition in Orlando, Florida, SIPA introduced the XFORM injection molding system that is capable of handling molds with upwards of 96 cavities. The new Athena machines are a complement to XFORM.”