SMINOW Magazine 2012/8 - English Version

ƒ Latte Milano ƒ GSG ƒ Lattebusche ƒ Kassatly Chtaura ƒ Brasserie Milles

Latte milano & lattebusche

Milk is life!

Bee-hive Pack:

the new “honeycomb” format SMI WINS the

Magazine 2012 08

China Awards 2011

www.smigroup.it

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25 years of constant innovation, quality and reliability

rom January 1st 2012 our range of Smiflexi packers and Smipal palletizers has been enriched by a good number of new models, i.e. automatic systems with high technological content, designed to respond adequately to new market trends and to the changing demands of our many customers. Innovation, in fact, also means being able to keep pace with a market that changes, evolves, or, simply, that is brought into question to be increasingly competitive. For Smigroup companies, change means listening to the market in which they operate, facing new challenges, opening to new opportunities. We therefore decided to offer our customers some new shrinkwrappers, wrap-around case packers and twelve new automated palletizing systems, as further explained in the “innovation� section of this issue of Sminow. All the new Smiflexi and Smipal machines are characterized by better production performance, reduced energy consumption and technical solutions of new design. As such, 2012 is a year of great changes for Smigroup but also one in which we take stock of our enterprise: this year, in fact, we celebrate the 25th year of business of our parent company SMI S.p.A..

It is an assessment to which we look with pride and satisfaction because Smigroup companies have delivered, since 1987, more than 38,000 technologically advanced packaging machines in more than 130 countries worldwide. Today the company employs more than 600 persons and, in 2011, reached 100 million Euros in sales revenue. But even more important than the results is the innovative spirit that guides us in our daily activities and allows us to look to the future with the same confidence and determination that has allowed the company to reach this point. It’s a way of being, thinking and acting, which does not settle for what we have managed to achieve from scratch in 25 years but that encourages us to continue the process of improving and expanding our range of products to offer our customers technically advanced, economically competitive solutions with reduced environmental impact.

The new look of our Sminow house organ is thus not a coincidence but the opportunity to celebrate 25 years of constant innovation, quality and reliability of the product as well as customer service.

Paolo Nava, President & CEO SMI S.p.A.

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Enter our web site www.smigroup.it and fill in the form in the section news / smi now magazine and you will get your copy by post as soon as possible.

Paper: Polyedra S.p.A.

Contributors to this issue: Latte Milano - GSG - Kassatly Chtaura Brasserie Milles - Lattebusche

Print Agency: Arte Grafica Saini S.r.l.

Product pictures in this issue are shown for reference only.

in this issue

Italy: Milk Producers in Lombardy Italy: GSG Lebanon: Kassatly Chtaura France: Brasserie Milles Italy: Lattebusche

The line for the packaging of large containers “thins down” “Pallet display” trays: why you should choose a Smiflexi WP XL wraparound case packer The Bee-hive Pack: the new “honeycomb” format Smipack: ßP 600 - the ideal packer for producing efficiently, flexibly and costeffectively / Smipack and pad + film packaging

The China Awards 2011 prize to SMI Sales Network: great success for the Convention organized by SMI Smigroup in between Quality and Environment Focus on 2011: a successful year Trade Fair Events 2012: a full calendar with confirmations and novelties

Experts from the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) estimate that the world production of milk at the end of 2012 will increase by 2% compared to 2011, in line with the growth rate of world population. In China production is expected to increase by 8%, in India by 4%, in South America by 3.2% and in Europe by a modest 0.4%.

MILK AND DAIRY SECTOR Centrali Produttori Latte Lombardia S.p.A. Peschiera Borromeo (MI), Italy Rotary stretch-blow moulder SMIFORM SR 6

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ilk is a simple food, life’s very first food, the one we’ve known since we were born.

By contrast, milk production is very complex. It requires the work and commitment of an intricate network of operators and the use of advanced technological systems throughout the production cycle: from stable to packaging, all the way to the consumer’s table.

Companies operating in the dairy sector continually invest in new product packaging technologies with the final goal of offering consumers easy-to-use packages that at the same time meet highest quality standards.

Faced with a very large number of consumers, each with special needs and habits, the dairy industry must be able to differentiate its offer as much as possible, by offering products packaged in various types of containers: cardboard cartons with or without cap, glass or PET bottles with cap, etc.

In Milan, Centrali Produttori Latte Lombardia S.p.A., the historic company in the dairy sector that has always paid great attention to consumer demands, aims to establish itself as a leading company in its sector both in Lombardy and in Italy.

The Milan-based company relied on SMI technology for the design of its PET line for the bottling of fresh milk in the 1-liter and 0.5-liter collations.

Above the Carengione nature reserve in Peschiera Borromeo: originally a hunting reserve of the Counts Borromeo, today a WWF oasis.

Milk is life!

When we think of milk, images related to concepts such as life, health and purity crop up in our minds because milk is among the most nutritious and good foods.

Territoriality: key to the final quality Latte Milano is controlled by Consorzio Produttori Latte Milano (Milan Milk Producers Association), which consists of 105 farmer members, which collects milk from 160 contributors altogether. The milk comes from a number of Lombardy-based contributing companies - from the provinces of Milan, Lodi, Cremona, Bergamo, Lecco – which are located in the immediate vicinity of the plant. The sales network of 110 owners of small-sized enterprises collects the product and delivers it to about 8,000 stores scattered throughout the region.

Territoriality is therefore an essential element in the development and growth of Latte Milano and continually ensures high quality levels. In fact, this company has always been particularly attentive to values such as freshness, purity and tastiness and this is why the strong link with the territory is extremely important.

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ilk plays a key part of our diet; suffice it to say that for infants, in the first months of their lives, this food is the first and only source of sustenance and growth. Milk is not only an essential food for the development and growth of children but also a unique food for the welfare of adults thanks to the abundance of nutrients it contains: proteins, sugars, fats, vitamins and minerals.

In particular, milk proteins contain all the essential amino acids, i.e. those that our body is not able to synthesize and those for which our diet is the only source.

Milk is an important source of calcium and phosphorous, present in high amounts and in optimal ratio,

important for the skeletal system. Milk also contains magnesium, zinc, copper, selenium, fat-soluble vitamins A-E-K and water-soluble vitamins C, folic acid and riboflavin.

Milk sugars are made up of lactose. People allergic to milk (due to the lack of the lactase enzyme) may resort to lactose-free milk in which lactose is absent or has a very low content, thanks to the industrial process of hydrolysis of this ingredient.

The appeal of milk

in PET bottles

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entrali Produttori Latte Lombardia opted decisively for bottling in PET bottles, making use of SMI’s expertise for the installation of a Smiform 6 cavity rotary stretch-blow moulder for the production of the new 0.5 and 1 liter containers.

The purchase of a Smiform SR6 blow moulder is part of a development plan of the PET production line, which was necessary to meet the increased demand of fresh milk bottled in this type of container; a market trend that in Italy is consolidating at the expense of glass bottles.

In the study of the new line, all requirements imposed by the customer for the new investment were thoroughly analyzed by SMI engineers, among which the optimization of production space, operative flexibility of the new system, the format changeover speed and the ease of use of the machine.

The installation of the Smiform SR6 stretch-blow moulder also made it possible to restyle the 0.5 and 1-liter containers since they now are more appealing to the final consumer; in addition, the new bottles are produced by blowing preforms lighter than before, with obvious advantages in terms of savings on the cost of packaging material for each individual container.

For its line end secondary packaging, Centrali Produttori Latte Lombardia has chosen a Smiflexi LSK 30F packer that is able to package different sizes in shrink film at the maximum speed of 30 packs per minute.

Latte Milano: origins and evolutions of a brand It all began in 1930, when Consorzio Produttori Latte Milano established its headquarters in Piazza Diaz 1, in the center of the city of Milan, near the farmers market.

In 1955 the production unit, which included the plant for the collection, processing and packaging of milk, moved to Peschiera Borromeo (Milan province) and is still there. In the nineties of the last century the company successfully completed a series of investments and acquisitions of other companies of this sector, in order to boost its supply and deal effectively with an increasingly competitive market.

Included in this investment program was the acquisition of the Centrale Latte Alta Brianza (Milk Factory in the Upper Brianza area) in 1992 and, in 1998, the Vigevano Milk Factory.

In 1998 the Milan-based company also launched the Latte Bergamo brand.

In June 2001, as part of a broad project of organizational restructuring, Consorzio Produttori Latte Milano formed the Centrali Produttori Latte Lombardy joint stock company, dedicated to the production and marketing of the following brand products in Lombardy: Latte Milano, Latte Pavilat (Vigevano Milk Factory), Latte Bergamo and Latte Clab (Alta Brianza Milk Factory).

Daily output: 130,000 liters of fresh milk 10,000 liters of fresh cream

Production facilities aim at flexibility

In recent years the plant in Peschiera Borromeo was substantially renovated through a series of measures to streamline production lines and modernize its systems.

After installing latest generation machinery, every day this facility now produces 10,000 liters of fresh cream and 130,000 liters of fresh milk.

The raw material, which undergoes various transformation processes, becomes different types of milk: whole high quality, semi-skimmed, skimmed, organic, etc.

Each product can then be packaged in a wide range of containers and collations: PET bottles, glass bottles, cardboard cartons, Tetra Packs.

Such a variety of product and packaging can be managed effectively only with very flexible plants that can easily adapt to frequent changes of production, to be able to quickly switch from one process to another.

The Smiform SR6 stretch-blow moulder and the Smiflexi LSK 30 F shrinkwrapper installed at the Centrali Produttori Latte Lombardia are the

ideal solution for these requirements since the innovative technologies they are equipped with provide assurances to the end user in terms of operative versatility, high production efficiency and rapid format changeovers.

packaging a unique vehicle for brand promotion

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n the milk industry, and more generally the food industry, the packaging of the product plays an increasingly important role in guiding consumers’ purchasing decisions. Brand recognizability and visibility on the shelves of supermarkets are extraordinary promotional vehicles at which companies of the “food & beverage” sector keep aiming, more than ever, to increase their sales volumes and market share. The development of innovative packaging, as far as shape, attractive graphics and appearance are concerned, has become an indispensable factor in the marketing strategy for large- and small-sized companies that, thanks to machines and packaging systems that are ever more versatile and customizable, can let not

only your imagination run wild but also the creativity of graphic designers and admen in the creation of an almost infinite range of different packaging solutions.

At single-container level, for example, Smiform is able to offer its customers the study and design of PET bottles for every specific demand, highly customizable in shape, size, appearance, etc. After careful analysis of customer needs and demands, the idea of the container processed by Smiform designers is transformed into a detailed project, complete with

three-dimensional rendering, industrial feasibility analysis and simulation of tests on the structural and mechanical strength of the container. To date, engineers of Smiform’s CAD center have developed more than 1,000 containers that differ in capacity, shape, layout and structural complexity.

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DETERGENTS SECTOR G.S.G. S.p.A. Gussago (BS), Italy Rotary stretch-blow moulders SMIFORM SR 4HC - SR6

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very day millions of people worldwide use cleaning products for house cleaning and professional sanitizers for cleaning the workplace. Faced with such a vast market, the companies in the sector must keep thinking about innovative solutions to be able to offer products for household and professional use to live up to consumers’ expectations in terms of quality, safety, environmental friendliness and social responsibility.

In Italy the joint-stock company GSG of Gussago (in the province of Brescia), which specializes in the production of detergents, has built its success on strong capacity for innovation and the constant search for cuttingedge solutions, which differentiate this company since its foundation.

These aspects of the business have made it possible to create strong relationships with some companies of the packaging sector such as SMI, strongly oriented to technological innovation. In fact, GSG purchased from SMI two Smiform rotary stretchblow moulders, one of which blow moulds preforms which feature a new

grade of polypropylene developed by the multinational Borealis (a leading company in providing innovative solutions for plastic granules).

The partnership between product innovation and packaging innovation

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SG knows very well how important innovative momentum is, intended as company development and growth, in a very competitive and “crowded� market environment. Hence the need to combine the strong experience of GSG in the field of detergency with that of SMI in the primary packaging field and stretch-blow moulding of PET and PP containers.

The partnership between the two companies was essential to create a modern industrial plant for the largescale production of 0.75 and 1-liter polypropylene containers for bottling the cleaning products of the Gussago company.

Moreover, this choice guarantees GSG the proper operative flexibility of its systems since the Bresciabased company produces a wide range of detergents, both proprietary branded and private label brands for many customers-distributors. Major large retail chains and discount supermarkets rely on GSG to offer

their customers a complete portfolio of high quality cleaning products, whether intended for household or workplace use. The packages and containers made in the GSG plants are easily recognizable on store shelves due to their appealing and innovative packaging, and are highly appreciated by consumers for the great variety of solutions, substances, colors and fragrances. > Technology and research to respect the environment GSG, the Gussago-based joint stock company, invests heavily in human resources specialized in the research and testing of new raw materials to continuously improve the quality and safety of its products. A large number of research projects are oriented to the identification of chemical

substances and packaging formulas that protect the health of the end user, be it the housewife dealing with household chores or the employee of a cleaning company. Thanks to ingenious solutions such as, for example, the coloring of its liquid detergents, GSG protects the safety of its customers by making it easy to identify the product, therefore preventing misuse or harmful use.

With a view to consumer safety, even innovations linked to the plastic bottles that contain GSG detergents are of great importance: greater resistance to shock and damage, easier to handle, use and store and better sealing of caps and closures are just a few eloquent examples of the efforts made by the Bresciabased company in this field but which also represent distinctive elements of a strategic marketing choice that aims at full quality.

The technology of plastics stretch-blow moulding

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he versatility of the rotary stretch-blow moulders from Smiform’s SR series offers high performance in the production of PET and PP bottles and containers.

Smiform blow moulders allow you to switch between the blowing of PET and PP containers without having to change machine configuration, providing customers high production capacity, quick format changeovers and low cost of use.

Currently, PP polymers can be used in the stretch-blow moulding process for a wide range of containers thanks to their good transparency and gloss, low water permeability, excellent heat resistance and sterilization.

The advantage of using PP bottles is even greater if the containers are produced with stretch-blow moulding machines rather than by extrusion.

In fact, the stretch-blow moulding of PP containers ensures: • higher output per hour per cavity; • lower initial cost of the systems since all that is needed is a preforms press and a rotary stretchblow moulder instead of the larger

Bi-oriented PP: lighter and transparent bottles

number of machines required by the extrusion process; • low energy consumption, thanks to the much shorter time required to pre-heat the preforms (approx. 5 minutes); • faster and simplified format changeovers, resulting in greater machine flexibility; • lighter preforms (weighing about -30%) as compared to extrusion; • malleability of PP containers similar to that of PET containers; • better mechanical properties of the container thanks to excellent resistance to fall, good stiffness, high resistance to hot filling, high transparency and gloss and low wear of moulds.

The strong demand for lighter, durable and transparent plastic bottles was the predominant factor behind GSG’s decision to install a Smiform SR6 rotary stretchblow moulder, which uses preforms of the polypropylene grade developed by Borealis.

Thanks to the bi-axial orientation of the polymer, the new grade of PP allows to reduce the weight of the bottles by approximately 30% compared to the grades of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and ensure, at the same time, excellent transparency and gloss. GSG was among the first companies in this sector to use the new grade of PP also thanks to its collaboration with SMI that developed the stretch-blow moulding technology of this type of plastic.

The new PP-based material and the advanced processing technology have enabled the Brescia-based company to extend the range of plastic bottles used in its plants for bottling cleaning liquids.

The containers are lighter now, thanks to the best mechanical and structural features of the new material, which has allowed GSG to launch a new line of bottles characterized by innovative shapes and a more attractive appearance.

Thanks to recent technical developments in the production of resins, even pharmaceutical and beverage industries will benefit from

Focus on Research & Development Smiform’s Research & Development laboratories employ a large amount of resources in testing new materials and new applications, especially in the stretch-blow moulding of preforms made from recycled material, multilayer preforms and preforms for hot filling.

Besides, Smiform engineers perform extensive testing and dimensional trials on the preforms supplied by the customer before installing a blowmoulder, using sophisticated equipment such as cameras and software, configured for comparison, which measure the thickness of the preforms through infrared rays and check polymer homogeneity through polarized light devices.

the advantages of PP polymers as an alternative to PET. In addition, companies operating in the “food & beverage” sector, not requiring a high barrier to oxygen, will be able to provide healthier drinks with fewer preservatives since PP is excellent for hot filling.

Detergents in History

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ocial responsibility for environmental protection is a recent achievement for humanity, even if the benefits of living in a clean, healthy, unpolluted environment, not detrimental to the health of individuals, are well known since time immemorial. To learn more on this subject, simply trace one of history’s little-known paths that begins from the custom of boiling animal fats in pots to give them absolute hygiene, softness, transparency and gloss. In 2800 BC, the Babylonians began to manufacture soap by boiling fat and ashes while in 1500 BC the ancient Egyptians combined animal and vegetable oils with salt to obtain a substance similar to soap. Even the Gauls discovered soap boiling in 312 BC: their women began to mix melted animal fat, wood ashes and clay although the resulting paste was used on the hair rather than to wash clothes. In the Middle Ages the manufacture of soap became an established business, the secrets of which were jealously guarded by the “soap-boiler masters�. By mixing animal and vegetable fats with wood ashes, with the addition of perfume, they began promoting many types of soap (for shaving, hair and body cleaning and to do the laundry).

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INSTALLATION / GSG

In 800 AD, the French progressed rapidly in the production of soap thanks to the large availability of raw materials such as fat and olive oil; but only in 1746 was this product registered by French Pharmacopoeia, which proposed several methods of manufacture. In 1800 soap was still heavily taxed as a luxury item but when taxes on it were removed, the general level of cleanliness drew enormous benefit.

The twentieth century was the century of innovations: multi-purpose powder detergents and powder detergents for laundry and washing machines were created in the 50s; the 60s witnessed the creation of those in powder form for household hygiene, liquid fabric softeners and detergents with the addition of enzymes. The 70s were characterized by the marketing of detergents for delicate fabrics, for family packs and polishing fluids;

softeners for clothing, washing powders compressed into tablets and dish washing gels were all born in the 80s while in the 90s the range of cleaning products was enriched with concentrated and compact detergents, refills, tablets for dishwashers and rinse aids.

GSG gives the label a new look

In addition to meeting the criteria and requirements laid down by law, the label is also a useful way to “convey� information, data and warnings on the content and safety of the marketed product. For example, GSG indicates on the labels of its detergents the Poison Control Center telephone number of the Niguarda Hospital in Milan, which possesses the safety data sheets for each product produced by the Brescia-based company.

Since these sheets are reviewed and validated by hospital doctors, they are very useful when administering first aid to people who ingest chemicals or use them improperly.

This initiative, which is aimed at protecting the health of consumers, is one of the many demonstrations of the importance GSG gives to safety and social responsibility in its business strategy.

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interwiew

THE WORD TO THE CUSTOMER Interview with Gianbattista Gozio, GSG S.p.A. CEO packaging. The strong commitment to environment protection requires the use of technologically advanced machinery capable of handling both virgin raw materials and recycled material, reducing energy consumption per produced unit and ensuring maximum product safety for the health of the consumer”.

Research and Development play a key role within GSG. How important is cooperation with SMI in this context?

GSG S.p.A. is a leader in the field of detergents and distributes products throughout Italy both with its own brand and private label. What is the key to your success?

“The key to GSG S.p.A.’s success surely lies in the flexibility and dynamism of our company. GSG is in fact particularly attentive to the specific needs of each customer, who can find modern, efficient and versatile production facilities at our plant, capable of customizing processes according to a wide range of different solutions. This aspect has allowed GSG to win the

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INSTALLATION / GSG

trust of large organized distribution chains and become a major player, at a national level, of the private labels productions sector”.

Environmental compliance, product quality, packaging versatility and focus on consumer welfare are the strong points of GSG’s business strategy.

How important is the contribution of technologically advanced machinery to achieve these objectives?

“GSG is at the forefront as concerns the use of eco-compatible materials and the production of eco-friendly

“Research and innovation are a critical element for the growth of our company as they allow us to propose cuttingedge solutions both in the use of new raw materials and in improving the quality and safety of our products. The partnership with SMI has allowed us to develop a new manufacturing process based on the stretch-blow moulding of new polypropylene bottles, producing aesthetically pleasing PET containers with innovative shapes and reducing, in both cases, the weight of the preforms used while maintaining high production speeds”.

About GSG S.p.A.

What were the main factors that led GSG to invest in Smiform’s SR stretchblow moulders for the blowing of PP preforms?

“Smiform blow moulders convinced us because of their great operative versatility, they are easy to use and allow the user to quickly switch from the production of one format to another.

Moreover, they are characterized by high performance, low power consumption and reduced maintenance. This is why we decided to invest in the purchase of two Smiform rotary stretch-blow moulders: a 6 cavity machine for producing containers up to 3 liters and a 4 cavity machine for producing high capacity containers up to 10 liters”.

How important are investments in the search for innovative packaging materials for GSG? What are the strategies implemented by your company to face market competitiveness?

“Technological innovation is a key factor in all GSG production areas.

Our company is always looking to find the best solutions to respond promptly and effectively to the needs of present and future customers. Consequently, in order to be competitive on markets that are extremely difficult and very tied to the price factor, we continuously invest in the research and development of new packaging materials and in the

GSG has been present since 1964 in the production and marketing of household cleaners, for professional and industrial environments, for caterers and restaurants.

The company’s products are distributed throughout the Italian territory by major supermarket chains, discount supermarkets and wholesalers for freelance professionals.

Advanced manufacturing systems ensure continuity in product quality control and compliance with safety regulations, with an eye to environmental protection.

Since the company pays special attention to the quality of the offer, there is a careful selection of raw materials and most appropriate type of packaging for different product lines.

In recent years, the detergent market has focused increasingly upon the functionality and safety of proposed packages that must be very durable and safe as they contain chemical-based liquids (ammonia, ethyl alcohol, degreasers, bleach, etc.).

However, the companies of this sector have not neglected other important aspects such as container ease of use and appearance; in fact, in a market where supply is increasingly broad and diverse, the products of a specific brand must capture consumers’ attention to be able to stand out from the crowd and increase sales.

purchase of technologically advanced systems. An example is represented by investments in machinery that allowed us to process even the flakes of recycled PET, thus contributing to cost reduction”.

What are the current trends of the cleaning products market?

“For about the last two years the detergent market in Italy has been going through a negative period, determined by a drop in sales. Contrary to industry trends, GSG has seen an increase in volume of about 10%.

In the near future, the main challenge of our company will be the strengthening and expansion of the market share also thanks to the use of innovative technologies and supply diversification”.

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Kass Cht

SPIRITS & BEVERAGE SECTOR Kassatly Chtaura Nahr el Mott, Beirut, Lebanon 2 Shrinkwrappers Smiflexi SK 350T

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INSTALLATION / Kassatly Chtaura

ssatly taura

O

ften the combination of family tradition and strong entrepreneurship is the basis for creating great opportunities for development in industry. If, then, the traditions handed down from generation to generation become real passions, success of the business is assured. An example of how true this is may be seen at the Lebanese company Kassatly Chtaura, which owes its success in the market to a clever fusion of family tradition, technological innovation and entrepreneurial know-how.

The company’s historical roots date back to 1974, when the current CEO Akram Kassatly founded a small company dedicated to the production of wine, following the footsteps of his father Nicolas who worked in this field since 1919. Today, after almost forty years, the name Kassatly Chtaura is linked to a wide and diverse range of drinks, in addition to wine, capable of satisfying a growing number of consumers in all areas of the Middle East.

The reason for this success is easily explained: behind Kassatly Chtaura there is an exasperated care for quality, the use of carefully selected

raw materials and a systematic use of technological innovation. As for the latter, since 1997 the Lebanese company has relied on the expertise of SMI that since then has become a trusted partner of Kassatly Chtaura for the provision of a wide variety of high-tech packaging machines for the packaging of the BUZZ and FREEZ branded products. Recently, the Lebanese company acquired two new Smiflexi SK 350T packers from SMI designed to package in shrink film up to 35 packs per minute with or without tray.

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How to surprise the market with new products

K

assatly Chtaura’s growth since 1974 has been so amazing as to allow the company to achieve major breakthroughs on both local and foreign markets. Kassatly Chtaura annually invests more and more resources in the research and development of new production lines dedicated to a wide range of syrups, liqueurs, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, which meet the growing demand for diversified products from the market. In particular, sales of syrup concentrate with the SYRUP brand are in constant growth since 1980,

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and since 1982 the Lebanese company has witnessed a progressive increase in popularity with consumers for its liqueurs with the LIQUEUR brand.

Kassatly Chtaura is continually looking for new market opportunities, often generated by new consumer habits, to which it responds with its portfolio of high quality products. In recent years the commercial efforts of the Lebanese company have focused primarily upon alcoholic beverages with the BUZZ brand, i.e. Ready-To-Drink alcoholic beverages made with vodka and flavored

INSTALLATION / Kassatly Chtaura

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in a variety of tastes. Ever since it was launched, the BUZZ line experienced immediate success and gained a growing number of consumers who can now choose between the traditional refreshing version and the energy drink (BUZZ ENERGY). Following the success of these drinks, Kassatly Chtaura decided to launch another line of products marketed under the FREEZ brand; the latter is a new range of alcohol-free drinks derived directly from the products with the BUZZ brand. In parallel, the Lebanese company also proposed, shortly after, the FREEZ ENERGY version.

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INSTALLATION / Kassatly Chtaura

In the heart of the Bekaa Valley The entrepreneurial activity of Kassatly Chtaura, headquartered in Nahr el Mott (metropolitan area of Beirut), has always been based on the strong desire to offer natural products obtained by traditional methods. It is therefore not a coincidence that the Lebanese company was founded in the Bekaa Valley, i.e. in the “homeland” of the largest producers of fruit, vegetables and wine of this country.

The Bekaa Valley is a beautiful and fertile valley that stretches from Lebanon to Syria; it is located about 30 km east of Beirut and is bounded by the peaks of Mount Lebanon to the west and the Anti-Lebanon mountain range to the east. It is the northernmost part of the Jordan Rift Valley, an area of geological fracture of the earth’s crust that extends from Syria to the Red Sea and Ethiopia. The Bekaa Valley is about 120 km long and about 16 km wide. There are two rivers in this area: the Orontes (Asi), which flows north into Syria, and the Litani, which flows south and then veers west toward the Mediterranean Sea. Already at the time of Roman rule, this valley was an important agricultural resource (mainly wheat) and still represents 40% of arable land in Lebanon.

In recent yeas the consumption of readyto-drink alcoholic beverages in Lebanon has experienced a real boom

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The boom of “RTD - Ready To Drink� beverages

I

n recent years the consumption of RTD alcoholic beverages in Lebanon has experienced a real commercial boom of which Kassatly Chtaura was a major player thanks to its BUZZ-branded products.

The strong increase in demand for ready-to-drink beverages led the Lebanese company to invest in two new Smiflexi shrinkwrappers, SK 350T model, for packaging the BUZZ soft drink glass bottles in tray + film.

For this new project, i.e. the expansion of its production facilities, Kassatly Chtaura chose

SMI technology, which this Lebanese bottler uses with satisfaction as far back as 1997 (when the first shrinkwrapper was installed).

Since then SMI has provided Kassatly Chtaura four other shrinkwrappers from the SK series, two cardboard sleeve packers from the MP series and one wraparound case packer from the WP series.

The main criterion adopted by Kassatly Chtaura in the choice of the supplier was manufacturing efficiency.

In fact, the Lebanese company was looking for technologically advanced secondary packaging machines capable of ensuring best performance in terms of efficiency and reliability and guaranteeing high output levels in its production plants.

The second criterion adopted by Kassatly Chtaura in the choice of the supplier was the flexibility and versatility of the proposed systems, which must feature quick changeovers from one type of package to another and allow the workability of new

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INSTALLATION / Kassatly Chtaura

types of packaging designed to accommodate the future marketing needs of the product.

For this company, packaging plays a key role in the promotion and sale of its brands since a captivating graphic design or an appealing look help to attract new consumers and therefore increase market share.

Efficiency, flexibility, versatility and

The “Jallab” syrup concentrates Kassatly Chtaura is the largest Lebanese producer of syrup concentrates, the most popular of which, “Jallab”, is used to obtain the well-known drink with the same name. The growth and development of the company are strongly linked to the success of this refreshing beverage, which has become the symbol of the traditions of Lebanon and the Middle East. The production of “Jallab” began in 1977, when Kassatly Chtaura opened the first bottling factory for what is still the most sold syrup in Lebanon.

This syrup is made from carob, dates, grape molasses and rose water. The popular drink is obtained by diluting syrup with water in a large cylindrical glass. Then crushed ice and a handful of raisins and pine nuts are added that, by floating on the surface, give this product a very particular appearance.

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reliability are well-known features of the Smiflexi packers from the SK series, which is made up of automatic machines for packaging plastic, metal or glass containers.

Depending on the model chosen, these systems allow you to manufacture packs in just film, cardboard pad + film, just tray and cardboard tray + film in multiple pack collations, which vary according to shape, capacity and container size.

SK packers reach a production speed

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up to 450 packs per minute (working in three lanes), according to the machine model and type of product to be packaged.

They are equipped with an electronic system that groups the containers and features automatic format changeover.

Moreover, they are available for packaging operations in single, double or triple lane variants (option).

INSTALLATION / Kassatly Chtaura

The homeland of excellent wines

The bottles of Ch창teau Ka produced by Kassatly Chtaura have made Lebanese wine famous abroad

The Bekaa Valley is the Lebanese wine-growing hub where wines with a particularly pleasing taste are produced through advanced wine-making methods with an emphasis on yield per hectare and finished product quality.

The choice of the date on which to begin the harvest is a very important decision for the entire industry: the grapes must be harvested when they can ensure an adequate alcohol content to the wine, which varies according to the type of wine you want; in addition, the acidity must be such as to provide freshness and durability to the product.

The best productions incorporate an optimal aging potential and, often, the producers wait even up to seven years before selling the bottles of wine aged in the cellar, some of which, such as those of Ch창teau Ka produced by Kassatly Chtaura, have made Lebanese wine famous abroad.

Akram Kassatly, founder and current CEO of the homonymous company, planned to follow in the footsteps of his father who in 1919 had opened a small company for the production of wine. Driven by a great entrepreneurial spirit, the young Akram settled in Dijon, France, where he obtained a degree in winemaking. But it took thirty years of hard work before transforming his dream into reality. In fact, Akram Kassatly was able to found Chateau Ka only in 2005, dedicated to the production of high quality wines that conquered the Lebanese, French and English markets in no time.

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interwiew

The word to the Customer Interview with Nayef Kassatly, Kassatly Chtaura Vice Chairman Akram Kassatly Chairman Kassatly Chtaura

Nayef Kassatly Vice Chairman Kassatly Chtaura

Kassatly Chtaura is the largest Lebanese producer of a wide variety of beverages. What do you expect from your packaging machine suppliers?

“When choosing the machinery for packaging our product range we give priority to efficiency and reliability, to ensure a high degree of utilization of the production facilities to our company”.

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How important is the cooperation with SMI for the success of your products?

“Packaging plays an increasingly important role in determining the success of our products with consumers, especially since Kassatly Chtaura sells quality soft drinks the price of which is higher than that of common carbonated beverages available on the market. From SMI, our supplier of secondary packaging machines, we demand technologically

INSTALLATION / Kassatly Chtaura

in the production lines of Kassatly Chtaura’s many beverages, able to quickly and easily adapt to the different types of bottles we use and the different pack collations that we market. From this point of view I can say that SMI did quite a fine job”.

What do consumers demand from your company?

“Our customers expect Kassatly Chtaura to be innovative and constantly up to date, to keep offering new, high quality beverages to satisfy their tastes and that its packages are pleasing to look at and easy to use”. advanced systems capable of creating a wide range of packages having a “strong personality” and an attractive and original “look”, which can convey the specificity and quality of the product also through the wrapping that contains it”.

Innovation, flexibility and efficiency: how important are these aspects for the growth of your company?

“With a range of products as diverse as ours, I would say that these three aspects really matter to our company.

Specifically, we chose to install only very flexible machinery and systems

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Brass Mill BEVERAGES SECTOR Sas Brasserie Milles Toulouges, France Shrinkwrapper Smiflexi LSK 35 T

GEO LOCATION

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INSTALLATION / Brasserie Milles

sserie les

I

n the beverage sector, the division in which global competition is most pronounced is that of carbonated soft drinks. In 2010, the consumption of non-alcoholic beverages on a global level reached 229 billion litres, equal to a 2% growth on the previous year.

The product category that outweighs all the others is that of the carbonated soft drinks (over 81% of the total).

In the context of non-alcoholic beverages, the CSD segment was the first that, historically, adopted a production system on an industrial basis. The first soft, carbonated and flavored drinks date back to the end of the 19th century when the first bottled soda pops and fizzy drinks made their appearance in different European countries while in the US the first dark cola drinks were born.

Since then the carbonated soft drink bottling industry grew enormously even if in recent years consumption on more developed markets has entered a stage of “maturity” while consumption in emerging countries continues to grow at high rates.

All this explains why today carbonated beverages continue to represent worldwide the first category of products in the “non-alcoholic drinking” sector (Source: Beverages Market Dossier - Simei 2011).

It is in the scenario described above where the major carbonated beverages producers are rushing to diversify their production. The long experience of large companies in this sector, such as Brasserie Milles in France, can make available to the market a wide variety of beverages with many different flavors. In fact, consumers are increasingly looking for products with new flavors, with an “innovative packaging” and a “strong personality”. Brasserie Milles’ success is based on its considerable entrepreneurial skills, which allow the company today to offer a wide range of brands of soft drinks and beers with a single point in common: the quality of the product!

Needless to say, when it comes to quality we are also speaking of the need for continued investment in latest generation technology capable of offering the market a product bottled and packaged in the most appropriate manner according to the marketing needs of each manufacturer. For this reason the French company has recently entrusted itself to the expertise of SMI for the secondary packaging process of its plants, by purchasing a Smiflexi shrinkwrapper from the LSK series.

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Business flexibility serving the major brands in the CSD sector

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he Brasserie Milles plant in Toulouges produces every year several million liters of soft drinks; although the “Limonette� beverage represents the largest share of the aforesaid volume, the drinks bottled for the Orangina and PepsiCola brands are just as important for the industrial activities of the French company.

Brasserie Milles owns several bottling lines dedicated to the production and packaging of a wide variety of products, each of which is bottled in glass or PET containers and then packaged in different pack collations. This production system requires flexible, versatile, agile and innovative corporate organization, able to respond promptly both to inhouse needs and those of changing customers.

The use of latest generation processing technologies is a mandatory priority for Brasserie Milles that has given a central role to innovation in its development & growth strategy, whose ultimate goal is total quality

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of the product sold. The continued dedication to this strategic objective has enabled the French company to obtain major awards from leading multinational corporations in the CSD sector, such as Orangina and Pepsi, which turned to Brasserie Milles for the bottling and packaging of their products.

To meet the expectations of many customers, the French company has relied on SMI’s service and technology that for years has been working with Brasserie Milles for the supply of automatic packaging machines. The aforementioned collaboration includes the recent installation of a Smiflexi shrinkwrapper model LSK 35T that packages the Orangina glass bottles in just film or tray+film, either loose or already packed in special pre-formed trays; the latter contain 0.75 liter bottles placed both in a standard way and upside down, wedged into one

INSTALLATION / Brasserie Milles

another. The same Smiflexi machine also manufactures 0.33 liter glass bottles in the 6x4 tray+film collation and 1 liter bottles in the 4x3 tray+film collation.

The packaging technology at the service of a heterogeneous market The bottling plant of Toulouges is Brasserie Milles’ real “jewel”, especially because this is where the company’s great development all began and this is where quality products are born, the ones that consumers around the world can easily find on the market. Thanks to technologically advanced machinery and fully automated production lines, Brasserie Milles is able to produce and package a large number of different beverages in its plants according to brand, taste, container, collation and type of packaging. Flexibility and versatility of the production system are the key factors that led the French company to acquire and retain important customers such as the Orangina and Pepsi-Cola International brands, for which it bottles and distributes products all over France with a fleet of 36 vehicles. In addition, Brasserie Milles is also a privileged partner of the largest retail chain stores such as Auchan, Leclerc, Intermarché, Casino, Continent, Métro and Promocash where you can find the full range of beverages and soft drinks produced by the French company.

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Quality above all

I

t all began in 1928 in the French town of Perpignan, in Rue Carlettes, when the then soft drinks provider Joseph Milles decided to “set up his own business” and opened a firm in a 400 m² warehouse.

With the help of his two sons Henri and Albert, Joseph Milles rushed into the production and marketing of lemonade with the “Limonette” brand, soft drinks and soda water.

Soon the product portfolio distributed by the young Brasserie Milles Sas was enriched with the Slavia beer,

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manufactured by Brasserie de la Comete (today Heineken). The turnover of the small business began to grow rapidly, becoming a reference point for beverage wholesalers of the region since they could find beer and drinks of various kinds at Brasserie Milles. In 1950 Brasserie Milles also became the first French Orangina dealer and bottler for the area of the Eastern Pyrenees and neighboring regions. This popular soft drink made from orange, tangerine, lemon and grapes was invented in the early 30s of the twentieth century by the Spanish chemist Trigo, but became popular thanks to Léon Breton, a FrenchAlgerian who began producing it at an industrial level in Algeria a few years later; the Orangina plants were then transferred to France in 1962.

The spread of this drink in the whole of France

INSTALLATION / Brasserie Milles

was made possible thanks to the partnership with Brasserie Milles that distributed it to the French and Catalan wholesalers from its own production facilities in Perpignan.

Also, in the 50s, the even more well-known Coca-Cola began to conquer the French market, where it was originally produced and distributed by Brasserie Milles as concessionaire of the American manufacturer for the Eastern Pyrenees region.

The strong link with the territory Brasserie Milles is strongly rooted in its environment and participates actively in the cultural and sporting life of the Perpignan and Toulouges region. Among others, the company has been chosen as the official supplier of many local sporting events such as tennis or rugby championships.

The production unit of Perpignan soon became too small to meet the demands of all its customers and therefore in 1970 the French company moved its production facilities to Toulouges, in a new industrial area of 10,000 m². In later years Brasserie Milles expanded rapidly, and significantly broadened its product offerings becoming in 1996 the Orangina bottler for Spain, and the sole distributor of this drink for the Balearic Islands and also, since 1998, distributor of the Cruzcampo beer (Guinness Group) in southern France.

Today Brasserie Milles Sas is a modern company with 60 employees with a turnover of about 19 million Euros per year and that also offers, in addition to soft drinks and beer, a large portfolio of wines, spirits and coffee.

The popular “Orangina� carbonated beverage was invented at the beginning of the 30s

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LATT BU MILK AND DAIRY SECTOR Lattebusche S.c.a.

Busche (BL), Italy 3 packers SMIPACK BP802AR 230R 2 packers SMIPACK BP 800AR 340 P

VIDEO

GEO LOCATION

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INSTALLATION / Lattebusche

LATTe BUSCHE

T

here is often a link between a company and its natural surroundings but when the company in question lies at the foot of the Belluno Dolomites, a few meters from the Piave River, bordering the National Park of the Dolomites, the bond becomes a perfect symbiosis.

We’re talking about Lattebusche, a modern dairy cooperative that represents the major business in the dairy sector of the Veneto region. To maintain this strong link with the environment, which is the basis for the life of the company itself, Lattebusche annually invests in activities that help maintain a sustainable balance of the entire structure, from an environmental and social standpoint. Among the many initiatives taken by Lattebusche, some that stand out include those which promote energy saving, reduce production process environmental impact, privilege the use of recyclable packaging materials and point to the ongoing modernization of machinery and plants.

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The environmentally friendly packaging

B

eing strongly sensitive towards the territory pushed Lattebusche to establish collaborations with SMIPACK and BBM Packaging for the installation of special packers at the plant in Chioggia in the lines that package milk and sherbets in the classic Rex containers.

The key objective of the new investment was to bring down the cost of packaging sherbets and milk in cans and replacing the cardboard box or the plastic case with a cheaper, more versatile and less bulky package.

The choice of Lattebusche fell on a package consisting of just shrink film that has a special protection: a layer of cardboard inserted between the cans.

The system supplied includes three SMIPACK packers model BP802AR 230R (two for the milk line and one for the sherbet line), that pack cans in just shrink film; the latter solution resulted in considerable savings on the cost of the package compared to the previous packaging in

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INSTALLATION / Lattebusche

corrugated cardboard boxes.

At the same time, however, SMIPACK had to guarantee the Chioggiabased company adequate product protection during handling in the factory, road transport and storage in the warehouse.

This need has been adequately met by fitting the Ă&#x;P packers with an innovative system that vertically inserts a cardboard layer between one can and the other to prevent the risk of crushing and damaging the containers and ensuring the appropriate top-load during palletizing.

Lattebusche turned to SMIPACK and BBM Packaging for the installation of two shrinkwrappers with sealing bars, model Ă&#x;P 800AR-340P, for the ice cream production line.

Bar Bianco: history and curiosity

The scrupulous attention that Lattebusche pays to all the production processing stages of its plants is reflected in the values and actions that characterize the company in the daily relationship with the territory in which it operates. In fact, Lattebusche sponsors or organizes every year over 300 events and sporting, cultural, education and social venues. Targeted especially to young people and schools, these initiatives aim to raise public awareness on food safety, the quality of life, the environment and other important values associated with the lives of future generations.

Bar Bianco is a brand born in 1975, when Lattebusche decided to open a direct sales shop for dairy products flanked by a bar for selling non-alcoholic products only, hence the name “Bar Bianco” that is reminiscent of the white color of milk and its derivatives. Opening a bar where alcohol was not sold was a brave decision, which was rewarded over the years by the growth in customers and revenue, as demonstrated by the numerous promotional activities and the frequent “special days” - such as the fall festival or the spring festival - and other venues that attract thousands of people from various provinces.

Bar Bianco has become a center of aggregation of the dairy sector in this area and attracts sports stars such as cross-country skier and Olympic champion Pietro Piller Cottrer as well as showbiz celebrities who visit this special bar to taste a piece of Piave cheese or drink a glass of fresh milk.

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Appealing look for the Lattebusche Sherbet

L

attebusche’s efforts in pursuit of customer satisfaction are aimed at making the respect for genuine dairy traditions coexist harmoniously with the technological upgrading of production facilities.

The strength of this corporate vision translates into a broad portfolio of products of excellence, recognized and appreciated by many Italian and international consumers.

Thanks to the new project run in collaboration with SMIPACK and BBM Packaging, Lattebusche managed to improve the appeal of its sherbet packs packaged in just shrink film.

This type of packaging has a high level of eco-sustainability since the shrink film is recyclable and disposable and, compared to cardboard, can

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INSTALLATION / Lattebusche

be disposed of more easily (since it generates lower quantities of waste) and stored in less space.

Furthermore, different products of different sizes can be packaged with the same reel, in different package

A little history on the sherbet Lattebusche’s Sherbet is a fresh, creamy and irresistible product, particularly suited to break the taste of food during a meal and prepare the palate for tasting new dishes.

Sherbet has ancient roots: its presence is evidenced in the Roman days of Emperor Nero (37-68 AD). In Venice in the thirteenth century it was served on the dinner tables of the aristocracy as a refined interlude between dishes of fish or meat and it seems that even Marco Polo mentioned it in his famous book “The Million” (known in English as the Travels of Marco Polo). The name itself of this cold dessert, considered the progenitor of ice cream, brings us back to the past: the Roman term “sorbere” means to sip, while the Arabic word “sherbet” means syrup. Over time the characteristics of the sherbet have differentiated and in Veneto a variant called “sgropin” was born, which is characterized by its low alcohol content.

Today Lattebusche offers the classic lemon sherbet and the red orange variant: non-alcoholic and cool, both flavors are suitable both at mid-meal and as a delicious alternative to dessert.

configurations whereas cardboard box packaging requires the supply of blanks of different sizes, depending on the capacity of the container to be packaged and the expected collation.

The choice of packing the sherbet cans in just film packs allowed Lattebusche to streamline procurement and reduce the cost of packaging materials.

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LATTEBUSCHE yesterday and today

L

attebusche was founded in 1954 in the town of Busche thanks to the initiative of 36 members, who founded the Latteria Sociale Cooperativa (Social Cooperative Dairy) in the Feltrina Valley. Busche is a town located in a pristine area rich in pastures in the province of Belluno, in a typical alpine environment that has a long tradition in livestock.

“Only a raw material of excellent quality allows the achieving of an excellent product”; this is the philosophy that has always guided Lattebusche and that has enabled it to stay in business successfully for so many years.

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INSTALLATION / Lattebusche

Today Lattebusche collects and processes the milk of 400 members, thanks to a corporate structure spread over 4 factories (Busche, in the Belluno province; Chioggia, near Venice; Sandrigo, in the province of Vicenza and San Pietro in Gù, in the province of Padua), which includes 200 employees, 80 agents, 10 stores, 7 distribution agencies and 6 direct points of sale.

Every day, more than 2,200 hl of milk are used in its plants for the production of a wide range of foods: fresh milk, yogurt, ice cream and fresh and aged cheeses, the

best known of which is the Piave cheese.

After over 50 years in the dairy sector, the Veneto-based company continues to invest in technologically advanced systems, able to combine dairy traditions of the past with modern production techniques.

Only a raw material of excellent quality allows the achieving of an excellent product

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LARGE CONTAINERS BOTTLING E

ach stage of the food & drink bottling and packaging process plays an important role in the quality of the product to be treated. In fact, before reaching the consumer’s table, the product undergoes multiple processes, transformations and movements performed by different machines connected to one another by

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conveyor belts. The proper design of a complete production line, the appropriate sizing of machines and plants and the smooth operation of the entire system are all essential to enable companies to produce products efficiently, cost-effectively and with a good competitive margin on the markets in which they operate.

Therefore, for companies that

INNOVATION / Large Containers Bottling

manufacture complete bottling and packaging lines it is very important to propose solutions to customers that are carefully studied, analyzed and designed from a technical, economical-financial, manufacturing and commercial standpoint. This is the job of SMI’s System Engineering Department (SED), which performs in depth studies of the feasibility

of each new complete line project requested by the customer, analyzes the variables and dynamics that may affect the project, assesses interactions among the different machines involved in the production process and, finally, draws up an ad hoc technical-commercial proposal that can ensure optimum operation of the entire system.

The implementation of reliable and efficient automated “turnkey” systems is the result of years of experience and technological research that, combining process innovation and development of new applications, can respond effectively to the specific needs of each customer in terms of operative flexibility, ease of use and energy saving.

The line for the packaging of large containers “thins down”

T

he study and development of innovative solutions in terms of line engineering has enabled SMI to design a fully compact, efficient and environmentally sustainable line for the bottling and packaging of large plastic containers from 5 to 10 liters.

The solution proposed by SMI, which entails the installation of a turnkey production system over a surface of less than 1000 m², includes: • an integrated system for the stretch-blow moulding, filling and capping of 5, 8 and 10 liter PET containers at the maximum speed of 6,600 bottles per hour;

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• an automatic shrinkwrapper for packaging in just film and/or just tray in “pallet display” collation, either ¼ pallet or ½ pallet; • an automated palletizing system; • a limited number of conveyor belts for the handling of the empty containers and packs.

This compact line, based on a new type of layout, ensures significant advantages to end users compared to traditional solutions.

First of all, it allows you to significantly reduce the production costs of each individual container thanks to the technical solutions applied to the machines in the line, the use of high energy efficiency motors and savings obtained by means of devices designed for the recovery of compressed air, heat and packaging materials.

A substantial simplification of the production line is achieved by the particular integration of different machines:

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upstream, a single blowing, filling and capping machine that does all the work that traditionally is performed by at least two different machines; downstream, the secondary packaging is performed by a single packer capable of processing the classic bundles in just film and especially the “very big” corrugated cardboard trays in the “pallet display” collation of either ½ pallet or ¼ pallet.

INNOVATION / Large Containers Bottling

The use of highly integrated systems also allows cutting maintenance costs as well as the cost of personnel running the line (in fact one operator alone is sufficient).

All this translates into a general reduction in the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) of the whole plant during the entire lifecycle.

Line beginning and end: all in one for the benefit of savings and flexibility

I

n the new compact line solution for HC containers designed

by SMI, the key element is the effective interaction between Smiform’s ECOBLOC® integrated system, intended for the production of primary packaging, and the compact system for the end of the line, which requires the installation of only two machines (a Smiflexi shrinkwrapper and a Smipal palletizer).

The entire system is therefore configured as one large, fully automatic machine, in which the various “intelligent” units perform, in perfect synchronism, a sequence of packaging operations that generates a continuous production flow from the PET perform to the finished pallet. A system thus conceived also allows the user to almost completely eliminate

the traditional storage pallets and the resulting stress from pressure and crushing on the loose containers.

The reduction in the number of standalone machines in the line allows you to move quickly from one type of production to another – and from one pack collation to another – according to market demands, and optimize the customer’s – user’s initial financial investments for purchasing the plant.

The competitiveness of the compact line starts from ECOBLOC’s® integrated blowing, filling and capping system...

The integration of the ing, filling and capping functions in a single machine offers significant advantages in terms of initial investment and subsequent maintenance costs, in addition to reduced overall dimensions on the floor.

The direct connection of blowing-tofilling technology reduces the number of machines to be installed in the bottling line since it does not require the presence of the rinsing machine and the conveyor belts between the stretch-blow moulder and the filler, and relevant accumulation.

The integrated solution also minimizes

the risk of container contamination, thanks to an innovative system that transfers the bottles from the blowing module to the filling module and allows significantly reducing causes for line inefficiency.

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...and continues at line end with a new specifically devised system The capping machine of the Smiform’s ECOBLOC® integrated system provides high accuracy in the application of screw caps, the feeding hopper of which is placed on the outside of the machine at a height that is easy for the operator to access. In addition, the caps are transferred to the capping module through a horizontal channel fitted with a suitable air-thrusting system. These two technical solutions allow the user to very quickly solve emergency situations caused by caps jamming and also ensure efficient “storage” in the event cap feeding is interrupted.

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In designing the compact line for bottling very large PET containers, SMI has paid special attention to key aspects such as efficiency, reliability and ease of use of the systems proposed.

Excellent results have been obtained by introducing a special Smiflexi shrinkwrapper from the SK series in XL version, capable of packaging 5, 8 and 10 liter containers both in just film packs (for example in the 2x1 collation) and in just cardboard tray packs in the large “pallet display” collation with ½ Europallet (600x800 mm).

The immediate benefit of this technical solution is a significant savings in the initial purchasing investment since only one machine is sufficient for secondary end of line packaging as well as only one connecting belt between shrinkwrapper and palletizer.

Operations carried out by a Smiflexi shrinkwrapper from the SK series in XL version are, in fact, commonly performed by three different packaging machines: • a shrinkwrapper, that packages large containers in 2x1 just film bundles; • a trayformer, that creates the maxi “pallet display” ½ Europallet tray (600x800 mm); • a tray loader, that places the bottles inside the maxi “pallet display” tray.

The operative flexibility typical of the entire range of Smiflexi shrinkwrappers is an element of fundamental importance to ensure the working efficiency of a compact line for HC containers.

INNOVATION / Large Containers Bottling

In fact, Smiflexi shrinkwrappers from the SK series can pack a wide range of containers in a large number of pack configurations and are therefore the ideal solution to effectively meet the changing needs of present and future end-users.

All Smiflexi machines are equipped with the MotorNet System®, an automation and control system based on SERCOS interface technology and made by Smitec.

Thanks to the ease of use of this system, the operator can run all the stages of the packaging process via the machine control panel and rapidly switch from one collation to another according to production requirements.

The ergonomic and functional design of Smiflexi’s automatic packers also allows the operator to easily perform all activities related to machine maintenance under absolutely safe conditions.

Traditional PET line

Compact PET line

PALLETIZER SK XL SHRINKWRAPPER

TRAY LOADER TRAY ERECTOR

SHRINKWRAPPER

APS PALLETIZER

*

*

BY PASS

HA HANDLE APPLICATOR

HANDLE APPLICATOR

ECOBLOC© PLUS (blower + filler + capper + labeller)

LABELLER

ACCUMULATION CONVEYORS

ACCUMULATION CONVEYORS

BLOWER

ACCUMULATION CONVEYORS

FILLER / CAPPER

*

“pallet display” tray of 1/2 or 1/4 Europallet size.

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“Pallet display” trays why choose a Smiflexi WP XL wrap-around casepacker

T

he advantages of the compact line proposed by SMI for HC containers packaged in “pallet display” trays are not limited to the small size of the entire system but primarily concern the purchaser’s minimum initial investment in machinery and conveyor belts.

Equally important are the customer’s logistical benefits due to the fact that the “pallet display” trays obtained from Smiflexi wraparound case packers are more compact than those obtained from the common tray-forming units.

In fact, the tray is formed in Smiflexi machines by means of a wrap-around system, which actually “builds” the tray around the product according to the collation and size of the package to be implemented.

The corrugated cardboard blank, picked out from the magazine underneath the infeed conveyor, covers the cardboard’s ascent until it reaches beneath the group of incoming products.

In the tray-forming unit, special mechanical devices fold the blank’s front and rear flaps.

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A gun sprays a thin layer of hot glue on the side flaps, which are bent at the end of the process to create the tray.

The wrap-around tray thus obtained contributes to the increase of the actual top-load by completely wrapping the group of packaged containers and therefore pallets are made with an extra layer as compared to the solution that uses trays made by a common tray-forming unit.

In fact, the “pallet display” trays obtained with the traditional systems are not “built” ad hoc around the product to be packaged but are closed before it is inserted inside them.

As such, the dimensions of the tray are generally greater than those actually needed because the tray loader must be able to operate with a certain degree of tolerance.

This latter aspect, however, does not fully exploit the optimization of space during the formation of the palletizing layers.

The solution proposed by SMI provides greater stability to the pallet and, thanks to the possibility of adding an extra layer, ensures a better topload.

In addition, number of pallets being equal, it allows the loading of more bottles on the truck.

The world of mass retailers keeps evolving and, in many markets, there is a growing demand of increasingly larger packs capable of containing an increasing number of products and facilitating the storage of inventory and the positioning of individual containers on the shelves.

Smiflexi’s WP XL wrap-around case packer best expresses the operative flexibility of SMI packaging machines for end-line packaging.

In fact, this model allows the user to create both “small” completely closed corrugated cardboard boxes

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INNOVATION / Smiflexi WP XL 400

mm

600

mm

mm

and “jumbo-sized” cardboard trays, the so-called “pallet display”, with a size of 1/4 Europallet and 1/2 Europallet.

This is a revolutionary packaging solution, made possible by the advanced technology used on Smiflexi wrap-around case packers.

Just think that usually two separate machines are required to implement this type of package: the first for the formation of the cardboard boxes in the traditional collations (2x3, 3x4, 3x5 and 4x6); the second for the packaging of a high number of bottles inside 1/4 and 1/2 Europallet trays (1/2 Europallet = up to 80 bottles).

The XL versions of the Smiflexi packers from the SK and WP series ensure the user considerable advantages, including: • high operative flexibility: the range of possible collations increases and includes both traditional-size packs and “jumbo-sized” extra large packages; • sustainable development: packaging in large sizes meets the increasing demand for technological environmentallyfriendly solutions since the amount of packaging materials used (film, cardboard, etc.) is drastically reduced; • energy saving: the reduced use of plastic and cardboard packaging materials translates into significant energy saving during the production of the package, the packaging process and the recycling operations; • simplified palletizing: the palletizing operations are quicker and simpler since the “jumbo size” of the packages allows the placing

Smiflexi: the end of line is renewed SMI operates in a constantly changing market since it is targeted at rapidly evolving companies.

For example, the “food & beverage” sector requires innovative solutions to its suppliers in secondary and tertiary packaging, able to deliver high performance of production lines and increase the degree of flexibility and adaptability to the new needs of the bottling and packaging business.

The in-depth analysis of the foregoing requirements has led SMI to further expand its product range with the launch, from January 1st, 2012, of several new models of fully automatic Smiflexi packers: SK 400 and SK 500 for packaging in shrink film, WP 400 and WP 500 for packaging in wrap-around cardboard blanks and, finally, CM 400 and CM 500 for combined packaging in a wide range of solutions.

All the new 400 and 500 models can reach a maximum production speed of 40 and 50 packs per minute, respectively.

Even the other Smiflexi “entry-level” shrinkwrappers from the LSK series were adjusted to new market demands and from this year are available in the 25 and 40 packs per minute versions.

of a reduced number of packs on each pallet layer (even only two in the case of the 1/2 pallet collation!); • problem-free storage: packaged containers being equal, the “extra large” packs allow to reduce considerably the handling of the product along the entire supply chain. Besides, even placing the individual bottles on the shelves of shops and supermarkets is quicker and more efficient since the operator optimizes the time taken to remove the boxes from the magazine and trays to be emptied.

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bee-hive pack The new “honeycomb” collation

T

he most influential research institutes have found that in the retail outlets of mass retailers (supermarkets, hypermarkets, shopping malls, etc.) many of the consumer’s purchase decisions are driven by emotional impulses. An innovative packaging, which is also particularly attentive to logistical dynamics, is a valuable commercial support because it helps to draw the attention of the occasional consumer to a specific product. SMI is well aware of this reality and offers its customers a wide range of high-tech

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INNOVATION / Bee Hive Pack

packers capable of creating quite versatile, innovative and customized packs such as, for example, the new type of “bee-hive” pack, inside which the containers are arranged in a honeycomb fashion.

This is a newly developed packaging solution, which offers significant advantages in terms of reduction of production and palletizing costs.

In fact, the arrangement of the bottles in parallel “staggered” rows and the creation of the classical “honeycomb” formation make it

“Pallet display” tray and “Bee-Hive” collation In the packaging of bulk containers in the large “pallet display” trays made by the Smiflexi packers in XL version (see previous pages), the “bee-hive” collation allows you to insert 120 containers (1.5 litres - Ø 90 mm) in 2 trays of 1/2 pallet instead of the 96 that are placed on one pallet layer with the traditional rectangle arrangement.

TRADITIONAL CONFIGURATION

728 mm

548 mm

» 96 1.5 L ø 90 mm bottles

Europallet 1200x800 mm

“BEE-HIVE” CONFIGURATION 593 mm

799 mm

possible to manufacture just shrink film bundles without interlayer between the palletizing layers, ensuring the customer substantial savings on the purchase of the corrugated cardboard.

The new “bee-hive pack” is very stable and compact thanks to the fact that the packaged containers are “lodged” into one another and there are no empty spaces in between, contrary to what happens, instead, in the traditional, perfectly rectangular packs. Furthermore, the “honeycomb” formation provides immediate advantages also during the palletizing stage since the absence of empty spaces inside the single bundle

» 120 1.5 L ø 90 mm bottles

Europallet 1200x800 mm

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Smipal: 12 new palletizing solutions

allows to better exploit the available space on the pallet.

The “bee-hive pack” collation is produced by the Smiflexi shrinkwrappers from the LSK/SK series and by the Smiflexi case packers from the WP series, all equipped with a dedicated device which arranges the containers (bottles or cans) in “staggered” alternating rows and keeps them in this collation during the entire pack formation process.

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INNOVATION / Bee Hive Pack

From January 1st, 2012, SMI has 12 new Smipal automated systems from the APS series for end-of-line palletizing operations: we are speaking of pre-configured machines, able to respond to specific production requirements in terms of speed and palletizing patterns.

All new Smipal models from the APS series are ideal for the automated palletizing of cardboard blanks, bundles, trays and packs in general. The APS series now includes three new main “families” of machines: the APS 3050 models for outputs up to 50 packs per minute, the APS 3070 models for outputs up to 70 packs per minute and the APS 3080 models for outputs up to 80 packs per minute. The basic versions of the APS 3050, 3070 and 3080 models include a single-column system with two Cartesian axes, an infeed equipped with a layer pre-formation device, the pallet conveyors and the fork-adjustable magazine for empty pallets.

Each of the three new basic models APS 3050, 3070 and 3080 from the APS series is also available as follows: • “P”, equipped with pad magazine and pad-insertion device; • “R”, equipped with head rotation; • “PR”, equipped with pad magazine, pad-insertion device and head rotation.

1987-2012: year by year, pack by pack...

25

years

of

continuous

technological

innovation, product quality and reliability, customer service, investment in research

and development. With over 38,000 SMI-SMIPACK packaging machines installed worldwide, Smigroup is the ideal partner for any company, large or small, operating in a wide range of sectors: food, beverages, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, detergents, cosmetics and many others.

CONSTANTLY INNOVATING THE PACKAGING INDUSTRY SINCE 1987

> stretch-blow moulding and filling machines > shrinkwrappers > wrap-around casepackers > conveyor systems > palletisers SMI S.p.A. -Via Piazzalunga, 30 - 24015 San Giovanni Bianco (BG) - ITALY Tel. +39 0345 40111 - Fax +39 0345 40209 - info@smigroup.it - www.smigroup.it

SMIPACK F

or years the series of ßP monoblock shrinkwrappers registers increasing success among SMIPACK customers.

This range of machines is much appreciated by users for its compact monoblock structure that facilitates its handling inside the production areas also thanks to the double feet/wheels it is fitted with.

The constant Research and Development of SMIPACK laboratories has allowed the expansion of the solutions offered by this

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INNOVATION / Smipack

type of packer with sealing bar that, since January 2012, are also available in two new models ßP 600 (semi-automatic) and ßP 600AR 150R (with automatic grouping and 150-mm infeed at 90°).

Depending on the type of product and format, the new machines are suited to meet production needs up to 10 packs per minute (model ßP 600) and up to 25 packs per minute (model ßP 600AR 150 R).

The ideal packer for producing efficiently, flexibly and at reduced costs

C

ompared to pre-existing ßP 800 models, the new shrinkwrappers have an even more compact structure that makes them particularly suitable for installation in production plants with limited space.

The new SMIPACK shrinkwrappers with sealing bar are the ideal solution for the packaging of small-sized products since they can pack containers having a minimum Ø of 15 mm (compared to the 25 mm of the ßP 800 model) and maximum height of 250 mm (compared to the 380 mm of the ßP 800 model).

The use of these new machines allows users to manage production lines even more efficiently and flexibly, safely and with low energy consumption.

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Main features ßP 600 • Maximum output: up to 10 packs per minute • Product minimum Ø: 15 mm • Product maximum height: 250 mm • Pneumatically operated pusher, controlled by two buttons • Fixing feet and handling wheels • Product-stopping press • Upper and lower motorized unwinder • Sealing bar: 550 mm • Usable film: LDPE with thickness from 20 to 60 micron • Variable speed tunnel conveyor, controlled by inverter • Single-chamber tunnel • Cooling fan at tunnel outfeed

ßP 600AR 150R • Maximum output: up to 25 packs per minute • Rows at infeed: 1 – 2 • Multi-drive system • Variable speed infeed belt at 90°, controlled by inverter • Product minimum Ø: 15 mm • Product maximum height: 250 mm • Motorized pusher controlled by inverter and encoder • Fixing feet and handling wheels • Pneumatic infeed press • Photocells to check for product presence and jamming at infeed • Upper and lower motorized unwinder • Sealing bar: 550 mm • Usable film: LDPE with thickness from 20 to 60 micron • Variable speed tunnel conveyor, controlled by inverter • Single-chamber tunnel • Cooling fan at tunnel outfeed

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INNOVATION / Smipack

SMIPACK and pad + film

packaging T

he new SMIPACK shrinkwrappers from the ßP series are the result of years of Research and Development in advanced technologies applied to automated machinery for pad + film packaging.

In the three new models, ßP 800ARV 230R-P, ßP 802ARV 280R-P and ßP 802ARV 280R-SP, the corrugated cardboard pad is picked out from the cardboards magazine through a vertical pneumatic cardboard picker.

The cardboards magazine can contain up to 300 pads, according to format, and its size can be adjusted from 120x200 mm to 500x350 mm.

Thanks to a chained belt that is independent from the machine cycle, the pad is auto-centered and positioned correctly as it waits for the product to be packaged. The perfect synchronicity of the movements of the pushing unit, the separator and the connecting belt, guarantee the precise positioning of the pad below the product as set by the packaging programme.

SMIPACK’s new ßP shrinkwrappers are designed for packaging products in pad + film and, thanks to their great versatility and flexibility of use, are very well adapted also to packaging lines that require frequent pack format changeovers. For example, to switch from the pad + film packaging to just film, simply deactivate the cardboards magazine directly via the machine control panel and quickly and manually adjust the product passage plate.

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a wide range of models for every need

T

he SMIPACK ßP series are monoblock shrinkwrappers with sealing bars, both semiautomatic and automatic, which stand out for their high versatility of use: bottles, cans, jars and many other containers can be packaged in various configurations in just shrink film or pad + film (depending on the model).

All the machines from the ßP series are widely used in many market sectors such as: beverages, food, chemical, wine, liquor, cosmetics, detergents, textiles, graphics and many others.

The Flextron© automation and control system, fitted as standard on all ßP models and equipped with alphanumeric LCD control panel, can store up to 20 work programs and provides a simple and accurate control of all parameters and production stages, such as temperature and sealing time, sealing bar opening, pushing unit speed and position, tunnel temperature and tunnel conveyor speed.

To meet the growing demand for the packers of this series, SMIPACK has launched the new 802ARV 280RS model for the packaging of just

film packs and three new models for the pad + film type of packaging: ßP 800ARV 230R-P, ßP 802ARV 280 R-P and ßP 802ARV 280R-SP. The main innovation introduced in the new ßP ARV models concerns the central section of the shrinkwrapper, between the 90° infeed belt and the sealing bar where, in addition to the traditional motorized pushing unit controlled by inverter and encoder,

66

INNOVATION / Smipack

Main features ßP 800ARV 230R-P

there is also a second chained pushing unit, also equipped with inverter and encoder. The latter innovation, together with the pneumatic side guides system, helps to ensure better pack collation, preventing it from breaking up.

• Output: up to 12 packs per minute • Rows at infeed: 1-2 • Multi-drive system • Sealing bar: 760 mm • Pad-insertion device • Pad minimum size: 200x120 mm • Pad maximum size: 500x340 mm • Pad thickness: min. 2.5 mm / max. 3.5 mm • Double-chamber tunnel

ßP 802ARV 280R-P and ßP 802ARV 280R-SP (equipped with sorter at infeed) • Output: up to 20 packs per minute • Rows at infeed: 1-2 (model ßP 802ARV 280R-P) and 1-2-3-4 (model ßP 802ARV 280R-SP) • Conveyor belt with variable speed, controlled by inverter and encoder • Multi-drive system • Sealing bar: 760 mm • Pad-insertion device • Pad minimum size: 200x120 mm • Pad maximum size: 500x340 mm • Pad thickness: min. 2.5 mm / max. 3.5 mm • Double-chamber tunnel

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and the China Awards 2011

S

MI S.p.A. was awarded in the “Top Investors in China 2011” category during the sixth edition of “China Awards”, an event organized by the Italy-China Foundation in collaboration with the Italian newspaper Milano Finanza, with the partnership of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China and the patronage of the Italian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

The China Awards are annually addressed to Italian companies, which have best been able to seize the development opportunities offered by the Chinese market, and to Chinese companies that have distinguished themselves in Italy.

The awards, divided in seven categories, were awarded by a jury chaired by Cesare Romiti (Chairman of the Italy-China Foundation) and Paolo Panerai (Classeditori Vice Chairman and CEO), and composed of Gabriele Capolino (Director and Associate Publisher of MF-Milano Finanza), Franco Cutrupia (Chairman of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China), Osvaldo De Paolini (Director of MF-Milano Finanza), Giancarlo Lanna (Simest Chairman), Marco Mutinelli (Professor of Business Management at the University of Brescia), Pasquale Natuzzi (Natuzzi Chairman)

68

INFORMATION / China awards

and Mario Zanone Poma (Chairman of the ItalianChinese Chamber of Commerce).

The “Top Investors in China” award refers to Italian companies that made significant investments in China in 2011. The award was received on November 24th, 2011 by Ennio Nava, Member of SMI’s Board of Directors, during a charity dinner at the Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan.

Proceeds from the gala event were donated to the “LifeLine Express” project, a nonprofit organization that provides free treatment and surgery through hospitaltrains that travel through the most remote and poorest regions of China.

Above Ennio Nava, Member of SMI’s Board of Directors, receiving the China Awards 2011 (photo: www.samirazuabi.com)

SMI and the Chinese market With over 4,500 packaging machines installed worldwide, SMI is among the leading manufacturers of automatic packers and bottling plants with high technological content, intended mainly for the food and beverage industries. In China, SMI is present with two representative offices in the main industrial centers of Nanjing and Guangzhou that follow both the commercial activities and after-sales technical support of over 500 packaging machines installed throughout China. Thanks to a highly qualified local staff, SMI is committed to ensuring its Chinese customers more efficient support and that meets the specific needs of a rapidly evolving market. In this context, also to contribute to the modernization process of many bottling plants in China with their hi-tech machinery, in 2011 SMI decided to further strengthen its direct presence in Beijing by forming a new company called SMI Machinery Beijing Co. Ltd., whose offices were added to those already existing in Nanjing and Guangzhou.

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Great success for the convention organized by SMI

O

n 14 and 15 September 2011 about fifty SMI partners from around the world gathered on the occasion of the 1st Sales Network Convention organized by SMI. At that event, various speakers explained to agents and dealers the latest technological developments regarding the SMI’s full product range: integrated blowing, filling, capping and labelling systems, secondary packaging machines, conveyor belts and dividers and

70

automated palletizing systems; all within a broader topic on technical and conceptual innovations applied to the types of complete lines that SMI is able to offer the market.

The Sales Network Convention 2011 was held at the beautiful Clanezzo Castle, in the province of Bergamo, and the two-day meeting with SMI’s sales network enabled fruitful exchanges of views on the latest market trends. The event ended with a group tour of the bottling plant of

INFORMATION / Sales Network Convention

Fonte Stella Alpina Acque Minerali (a mineral waters source), with which SMI has worked to build a new production line of 14,400 bottles per hour, called SACS (Stella Alpina Cost Saving), characterized by compact size (only 800 m²), reduction of packaging material costs and innovative energy saving solutions.

Smigroup companies between Quality and Environment The activities of Smigroup companies are based on the full respect of the fundamental principles of the corporate “mission”, such as Quality and Environment, which allow the development of innovative solutions for total quality and for pursuing an environmentally sustainable development program. In December 2011, SMIPACK S.p.A., SMILAB S.p.A. and SARCO R.E. S.p.A. obtained from AFNOR (the prestigious French body) certification for their Quality and Environmental Management Systems, which acknowledged their compliance with ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 regulations. The three foregoing companies are controlled by parent company SMI S.p.A., which already possesses these certifications. Smigroup’s attention to important aspects such as quality, environment and safety is also emphasized in the “Company Policy Document on Quality, Environment and Safety”, which originated from the values and principles that have been behind the company’s “mission” for the last 25 years. In fact, all the Smigroup companies are looking to create a close harmony between industrial activity, product quality, respect for the environment and workplace safety; elements which are the basis of a production process marked by the harmonious coexistence among people, technology and nature. Even technological innovation is of utmost importance in Smigroup’s business strategies that favor the conception, creation, implementation and circulation of new energy-efficient products and the adoption of in-house operating procedures that can contribute both to protecting natural resources and maintaining high levels of safety at the workplace.

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focus ON 2011 a successful year

T

he packaging machinery market continues to stand out for its growth rates that are above average in the industrial sector. 2011 was a year of positive results also for Smigroup companies, which confirmed their ability to propose innovative solutions highly appreciated by international customers. Last year revenues from Smigroup sales and services reached a high of 101.2 million Euros, with a flattering increase of +21.6% compared to 2010.

Sales revenues (Euro)

*Note: in 2009 SMIWRAP permanently ceased production.

Investments in R&D - % of SMI sales revenues

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INFORMATION / Report 2011

To achieve this goal, the substantial investment in Research & Development conducted in the 20092011 period certainly helped. In 2011 said investment was about 8% of revenues from sales and services of parent company SMI S.p.A. Another success factor is the fact that technological innovations affected all Smigroup’s product lines: from the Smiflexi automatic packers to the Smipal palletizers; from Smiform’s ECOBLOC® integrated systems to the

conveyor belts and Smiline’s complete line engineering solutions. The continued and increasing investments in research and innovation were key to retaining existing customers and acquiring new ones since they led to

the design of technologically advanced and very competitive solutions, with a quality-price ratio among the best in the market.

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2012 Events a full calendar of confirmations and novelties

E

ven this year Smigroup companies are present throughout the world by displaying their machinery in all the major packaging sector trade fairs. The first event in 2012 was the UPAKOVKAUPAK ITALIA exhibition held in Moscow, followed by the IPACK-IMA event in Milan; in April SMI attended DJAZAGRO, the fair in Algeria that in recent years has grown significantly in terms of turnout and international importance.

Following the success of previous editions, this year SMI confirmed its presence, through its local subsidiaries,

On the side Mr El Hassane Taaissat (to the right), SMI Sales Area Manager, with Mr El Hachemi Djaaboub (in the middle), former Trade Minister of Algeria, during the Djazagro fair.

74

INFORMATION / Exhibitions

at the two major events in the packaging sector in Latin America: EXPO PACK MEXICO and FISPAL TECNOLOGIA. These two fairs have for years been a magnet for thousands of visitors who meet in June in Mexico City and Sao Paulo of Brazil to see the latest technology of leading machinery manufacturers and packaging systems worldwide.

Among the novelties is the first participation of SMILAB at SOLAR EXPO 2012, the most important Italian exhibition and among the first worldwide, dedicated to energy sustainability and green economy, the central theme of which is renewable energy and distributed generation

(Verona – Italy – held from May 9 to 11).

Even the second half of the year will be marked by significant opportunities to meet in the key international markets.

In September, SMI will be present at the CHINA BREW & BEVERAGE exhibition in Beijing while in October it will be in Chicago at the usual PACK EXPO appointment. November is the month of two major events where SMI will be present this year as well: EMBALLAGE in Paris and BRAU BEVIALE in Nuremberg.

WE WILL BE ATTENDING...

Verona ITALY 9-11 MAY

Barcelona SPAIN 15 - 18 MAY

São Paulo BRAZIL 12-15 JUNE

Bangkok THAILAND 13-16 JUNE

Mexico City MEXICO 26-29 JUNE

Beijing CHINA 19-22 SEPTEMBER

Göteborg SWEDEN 23-26 OCTOBER

Chicago, IL U.S.A. 28-31 OCTOBER

Nuremberg GERMANY 13-15 NOVEMBER

Paris FRANCE 19-22 NOVEMBER

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