Sidel sells its 5,000th blow molder to AB InBev

Since April 2009, the 5,000th blow molder sold by Sidel has been making PET beer bottles at one of the leaders on the world beer market, Anheuser-Busch InBev. With 5,000 blow molders installed since the 1980s, or about one-half of total machines worldwide, Sidel has beaten all the records.

Sidel’s 5,000th blow molder is an SBO 14/20 Universal ordered by Anheuser-Busch InBev. Already equipped with about 40 Sidel blow molders as well as hundreds of Sidel Group filling, conveying and labeling machines, AB InBev has once again placed its confidence in Sidel technology in order to respond to demand from the Eastern European beer market. This SBO is used to make 2- and 3-liter PET bottles in Romania, one of the world’s top 10 countries for beer consumption (100 liters per capita in 2007) where AB InBev sells global brands (Beck’s, Stella Artois), multi-country brands (Leffe, Hoegaarden) and also local ones (Bergenbier, Noroc, Löwenbräu). AB InBev’s market share is nearly 20% in Romania, where almost 48% of beer bottles are made from PET.

5,000 blow molders installed: A world record

Sidel is the world record holder for the largest installed base of blow molders, accounting for more than one out of every two bottles blown.

To set this record, Sidel has relied on its strengths: proven technology for nearly 30 years, the excellent responsiveness of its production teams - 90% of blow molders are delivered within 12 weeks – and its stellar after-sales service – all over the world, about 1,000 experts monitor, maintain and improve the productivity of Sidel machines.

Sidel continues to drive the development of PET applications, not only with its blow molding technology but also with its knowledge about PET and its skills in packaging development. At Drinktec 2009, Sidel will be presenting its latest advances in PET packaging alongside blow molding-related technological innovations.

About the Sidel Group

With more than 30,000 machines installed in 190 countries and with annual sales of 1.19 billion euros in 2008, the Sidel Group is one of the world’s leaders in beverage packaging solutions: water, carbonated soft drinks, milk, sensitive beverages, oils, beer and alcoholic beverages. Sidel has production sites in 13 countries as well as sales and service offices in 30 countries. Around the world, the Group’s 5,550 employees provide customers with complete bottling solutions, including package design, line engineering, packaging machines and related services. To learn more about Sidel, come visit our Website: www.sidel.com