PETpla.net Insider 04 / 2011

PRODUCTS 51 PET planet insider Vol. 12 No. 04/11 www.petpla.net Preforms and bottles Parle Agro’s PET division was India’s first manufacturer of PET preforms for the beverage and water industry and is one of the country’s largest producers today. It operates production processes to international quality control standards and offers single-source, end-to-end packaging development solutions. The company operates two facilities, located at Silvassa and Khurda (Orissa) and equipped with Husky and Krauss- Maffei machinery. Parle Agro produces its own range of beverages but also supplies PET preforms to competitors in its consumer markets. Parle Agro’s PET preform manufactur- ing operation is established as a separate division within the group, supplying preforms to customers in the bottled water, ready-to-drink beverages, carbonated drinks, edible oil, con- fectionery and pharmaceutical segments. It supplies products with both 30/25mm and short necks for water applications, and PCO necks for carbonated and juice products. The PET division of Parle Agro also provides technical advice on blow- ing, bottle moulds, bottle design, closures, capping, filling, and other issues. The team works closely with customers to develop light-weight bottles that bring down packaging costs and help to keep final product prices under control. Parle Agro history PET was introduced to India in the 1990s, at a time when products were packaged in either PVC or glass bottles. PET technology was, initially, not very popular. Parle Agro decided to enter the plastic packaging segment as a backward integra- tion process and became the first beverage producer in the country to launch a flagship brand – named Frooti – in a PET bottle. Considerations included the facts that PET is odorless, with clear transparency, superior strength and better overall quality. Other companies followed suit and launched their products in PET packaging, thus widening the PET market in India. The arrival of PET bottles in the country provided consumers with convenience and improved aesthetics. Sales of the Frooti brand increased after it was launched in a PET bottle, and was followed by the company’s ‘Appy’ still apple drink, which began sales in PET in 2010. Parle Agro’s first blown bottle was for its 1l packaged drinking water brand, Bailley, in 1996. It was blown in a 21.8g, 30-25 neck in Tri start, neck preform in 1996. The product was previously packaged in PVC. Products like beer, wine, liquor, and natural fruit juices are also being packaged in PET bot- tles. The attractions to the market are the increased shelf life of PET bottles and the products’ compatibility with PET. www.parleagro.com