SACMI brings lightweight, tethered-ready solutions to Drink Technology India
At Drink Technology India, taking place at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai from November 13–15, 2025, SACMI will present a range of certified solutions addressing current developments in the beverage packaging sector, with a focus on sustainability, design and consumer experience.
UniAqua 26/22: a modular family of lightweight caps
SACMI has introduced the new UniAqua line, a range of lightweight 26/22 short-neck caps. All models in the UniAqua family share the same upper mould but differ in design and geometry to suit various applications. With a weight of 1.08 to 1.25 grams and cycle times of under 1.5 seconds, the caps are designed for compatibility with the increasingly common short-neck formats. According to the company, the solution supports efficient production in line with international environmental standards.
Tethered-ready proposals for the Indian market
The company states that it is preparing for upcoming regulatory changes with solutions tested to meet current standards. Among these is the AB26CSD T5 GME 30.40 26/22 mm cap, a tethered-ready model already in use on global markets, with an installed production capacity of around 25 billion caps per year. This cap has recently been adopted by an Indian manufacturer supplying a major international brand.
According to SACMI, the AB26CSD T5 allows an easy transition to the new standard, as manufacturers can adapt production by adjusting the slitting pattern to achieve configurations such as ThisCap Hold Open (TCHO).
In addition, the company is applying its tethered-cap developments to the UniAqua concept for use with 26/22 mm GME 30.28 necks. A new family of such solutions is currently in advanced development and expected to be launched soon.
New ultra-light 25 mm water cap
SACMI combines lightweight design with considerations for consumer use through customer- and market-specific solutions. The company’s Rigid Packaging Lab offers cap and preform design and testing services, with solutions approved and certified by major brand owners.
As part of the move toward higher-efficiency standards – of particular relevance to the Indian market – SACMI has developed the UniAqua-style 25/22 mm GME 30.39 water cap family, weighing between 0.7 and 1 g.
‘Lightened’ PCO1881
SACMI also offers customised lightweighting for PCO 1881 caps, currently the most widely used standard. This approach can help reduce raw material use and lower both production costs and environmental impact.
Technological expertise: CCM+IPS, a winning combination
SACMI technology is backed by high-performance presses that are claimed to be able to reduce energy and material consumption by up to 15% compared with current standards. The company recently introduced the 64-mould CCM press, which achieves a production rate of 2,850 caps per minute with a cycle time of 1.35s. The press also features a new generation of on-board digital controls (SMART PACK) designed to simplify operation and maintain consistent process quality.
On the technology side, SACMI offers the combination of CCM and IPS preform injection moulding presses, further enhanced with the introduction of the new IPS240, suitable for 96-cavity moulds. The ‘smartest’ in the SACMI IPS family, the IPS240 is claimed to be now more versatile, able to handle a variety of necks that range from the new 26/22 and 25/22 mm to the larger PCO1881 with 33 mm neck support ring. Thanks to its electric drive, the IPS240 reduces consumption, making it a high-performing solutions, says SACMI. It’s also available with the SMART PACK platform for on-machine digital control. All SACMI IPS presses are designed to work with 100% rPET without any modifications to the standard machine, thus anticipating regulatory changes that impose ever-higher quotas of recycled PET in beverage containers on the main international markets (in India, 30% by April 2025, with an annual increase of 10% to reach 60% by 2030).
Local services and support
SACMI supports Indian manufacturers with an in-country presence. For example, in 2024 the new Rigid Packaging Lab was inaugurated at SACMI Engineering’s Mumbai headquarters to raise the level of support available to the local market. This well-equipped Lab offers technical tests on caps and preforms and functional trials; it also helps customers assess lighter, more appealing, sustainable packaging. This new facility complements the digital and on-site technical support, the training provided via SACMI Academy, the S.P.A.C.E. digital platform, and the predictive maintenance and upgrade services provided through the new Smart Care support packages.