Technology and innovation are strategic objectives, and Água Pedra Azul, an important Brazilian bottler, is concretely pursuing them by relying on SMI technologies to modernise and expand its production capacity.
Recently, the company installed a state-of-the-art SMI rotary stretch-blow moulder at its facility in Marechal Floriano, designed to optimise the production of 0.5 L PET bottles for bottling natural and sparkling water.
During a visit to SMI’s headquarters in Italy, accompanied by staff from the Brazilian subsidiary SMI Do Brasil, the CEOs of Água Pedra Azul had the opportunity to see first hand the solutions in the beverage sector developed by SMI. After a series of technical evaluations, the EBS 10 KL ERGON stretch-blow moulder appeared to be the machine suitable to meet the production needs of the company, while at the same time allowing efficient and sustainable operations.
SMI solutions for Água Pedra Azul
The Água Pedra Azul brand is well-known both in Brazil and abroad for the quality and purity of its products, which enjoy significant success among wide segments of the South American population. The company began its activities in the late 1980s with the sale of 5 litre bottles of water, but in a short time, the production facilities were expanded; in 1999, Água Pedra Azul invested in new machinery to bottle sparkling water in small capacity PET bottles, already blown by other companies.
Equally important is the investment in creating a strong and appealing identity, recognised and appreciated by customers also thanks to the practicality of the 0.5 L PET bottles made by the EBS 10 KL ERGON stretch-blow moulder at a speed of 22,000 bottles/hour.
Reduced changeover times
For Água Pedra Azul, it is essential to have an efficient and flexible production system that allows quick changeover operations to promptly adapt to new formats. The changeover operations and mould replacements are simple and fast, as they involve adjusting processing parameters from the POSYC® operator interface, replacing each half of the mould by loosening four screws, and changing the bottom by means of a mechanical hook.
Advanced automation and overall efficiency
The stretch-blow moulding system is managed by the MotorNet System® automation and control system, which ensures the constant maintenance of optimal processing parameters throughout the entire production cycle and the direct modification of machine settings, thus simplifying format change operations. The simplicity of management and maintenance operations guarantees a high overall efficiency index.
Modular and compact structure
The compact and ergonomic design of the EBS 10 KL ERGON stretch-blow moulder allows the integration of the heating functions for preforms and the stretch-blow moulding of bottles within a single module. The reduced dimensions of the system ensure a reduced footprint within the bottling line and significant advantages in terms of operational flexibility and workplace safety, enabling the user to easily carry out all activities related to the use, cleaning, and maintenance of the machine.
“Valued Customer’s Club”, an exclusive award given by SMI Do Brasil
Born from an idea of Guilherme Vivona, Managing Director of the SMI Do Brasil branch, the award given to members of the ‘Valued Customer’s Club’ was created to testify and strengthen the partnership among the customer, SMI, and the branch, a partnership that goes well beyond the mere supply of machinery, as the collaboration begins with the analysis of the end user’s requests for the system, continues with the design and implementation of the most appropriate technological solution, and concludes with the installation of the machinery and the start of production. SMI Do Brasil, based in São Paulo, Brazil, puts every customer at the centre of attention and follows them step by step, listening to their needs, studying and creating solutions and projects that best meet their expectations, up to the delivery of the purchased machinery. Upon the completion of the machine installation, the management of SMI Do Brasil symbolically shakes hands with the end customer, presenting them with a unique and exclusive work of art, a symbol of SMI engineering, where mechanical precision and technological innovation meet. The award is represented by a grip mandrel, the mechanical element symbolising the first point of contact of the stretch-blow moulder with the journey undertaken by the preform, which, before transforming into a container (in this case into the beautiful Água Pedra Azul bottle produced by an EBS 10 KL ERGON stretch-blow moulder), passes through the heating oven before entering the mould.