CASE STUDY: ENERGY SAVING INNOVATION
Pepsi pushes PET to the MAX in Germany with Sidel blow molding upgrade
PepsiCo cut its cost base by 16% and energy use 19% at one German plant due to installation of the lamps on an SBO 18 Series 2 blower – used to heat preforms prior to blowing – which typically account for 90-95% of a blower’s electricity demand.
PET bottles produced at the Rodgau plant include 1.5 liter and 2 liter packages for the Pepsi, Schwip Schwap a soft drink made with cola and orange soda) and Pepsi MAX brands.
Offered as an upgrade
Dan Sorega, product manager, options and upgrades, tells BeverageDaily.com that the lamps were first launched in 2010 as an upgrade for certain installed blowers, replacing standard lamps.
“The ECO lamp utilizes an innovative, proprietary ceramic reflector that was developed by Sidel experts in collaboration with external specialists to significantly increase heat efficiency,” he says.
From 2011 onwards the upgrade was offered as an upgrade for all Sidel blowers out in the field – SBO Series 1 and Series 2 – and is now incorporated as standard into all new blowers, as part of the firm’s ECO Oven.
Fast return on investment
This includes the Sidel Matrix blow molding machines launched this year.
“For installed blowers we have been increasingly helping our customers to upgrade older blowers since 2010 to take advantage of the energy saving benefits,” Sorega says.
“The ECO lamps are becoming more common as more customers become aware of their energy saving benefits,” he adds, given that Sidel estimates a 12 month payback on average.
In PepsiCo’s case, Sidel targeted energy savings of 15% when installing the lamps, and said that for some customers no modifications of existing ovens or blowing processes are needed.
The ECO lamps also enable better process stability when heating the preforms, Sidel claims, resulting in a more optimized production output.
PepsiCo Germany distributes brands including Pepsi, Schwip Schwap, Miranda and 7-Up, as well as fruit and vegetable juices such as Punica and energy and sports drinks – Gatorade and Rockstar.
