Sidel and Pressco form strategic alliance
agreement for the distribution and sale of Pressco's Intellispec
PET container vision inspection systems.
Sidel and Pressco Technology have signed a strategic alliance agreement for the distribution and sale of Pressco's Intellispec PET container vision inspection systems.
Sidel will become the exclusive distributor of Pressco's integrated system for blow moulders in Europe and Asia. This agreement continues an already long-standing collaboration between the two companies. To stress the strategic dimensions of this relationship, Sidel will be participating on Pressco's Board of Directors. In addition, Sidel investment in Pressco will help to launch a joint R&D program for machine vision and intelligent sensing technologies for Sidel's core businesses.
Pressco's vision systems use cameras mounted on blowing equipment for on-line inspection of PET preforms and containers. Images are instantly analysed to detect any defects ( cracks, nicks, impurities, holes, etc. ) that occur in the base, seal surface, or sidewall of the container. The results are then correlated to blowing machine components (moulds, spindles, and transfer arms) using a patented process monitoring capability developed by Pressco.
The state-of-the-art technology is, according to the two companies, a highly effective tool in ensuring container quality and blowing productivity on liquid food and beverage packaging lines. Furthermore, the ability to correlate defects with various machine components means that the blowing machine's production process can be monitored to optimise productivity and improve uptime.
Sidel is currently the world's leading manufacturer of blow-moulding machines for PET packages. More than one in every two PET bottles worldwide is made on Sidel equipment.
Pressco Technology, a US-based company located in Cleveland, Ohio, is a leading manufacturer of inspection systems to the container and closure industry. A specialist in vision systems and process analysis technologies, Pressco has twenty years of experience in high-speed inspection systems. Today, over 350 Pressco systems have already been installed inside Sidel blowing machines around the world.
The two companies said that the strategic agreement will provide customers greater value by leveraging the know how, patents, and products of two industry leaders, today, and into the future. Sidel said that it will strengthen its offering in providing its customers machines that produce better quality PET containers at lighter weights and faster production speeds for the lowest possible cost.
