PETpla.net Insider 07+08 / 2018

BOTTLE MAKING 15 PET planet Insider Vol. 19 No. 07+08/18 www.petpla.net Sipa’s Italian way in North America Increased investments in the local service by Kay Barton Italian machine and bottling lines manufacturer Sipa’s North America branch office is based at a facility located near Atlanta airport, Georgia. As well as refurbishment and routine spares and replacement parts services provided by the company’s 40-member on-site team for its customers across North America, prototyping and testing are available at the in-house test centre and laboratory. The spare parts warehouse, located at the airport, is managed and organised by Sipa with the support of a partner company, can supply customers in North and South America with scheduled and routine spare parts and provide components at short notice, if needed for repairs. Key Account Director Antonio Orru explains why the location is so important to Sipa. Interview with Sipa North America, Inc. May 17, 2018 We met: Mr Antonio Orru, Key Account Director Mr Morris De Marchi, Vice President Operations “We have a considerable interest in consistently improving the service to our customers,” Mr Orru declared. “We are making strong and steady investments in the interest of achieving this goal. It is clear to us that high- quality equipment is in demand – and European and American technology continues to predominate over equip- ment from Asian manufacturers.” Sipa North America was founded in 1996 in Campreek, GA, about 20 minutes from its current site, where it moved in 2012 for the additional space available. Antonio Orru has been working for the company since the autumn of 2012. He previously worked in areas such as bottles leak testing, bottling lines and plastic bottles storing and conveying systems, so he knows the different facets of the industry from deep, personal experience. “The refurbishment business accounts for a sig- nificant part of our service activities here on site,” he continued. Without mentioning specific figures, he confirms that North America is currently home to a significant number of Sipa machines. The largest share is accounted for by linear blow mould- ing and single stage injection blow mould- ing equipment, in addition to com- plete lines, injec- tion machines and moulds. “All in all, the market today is characterised by two stage processes,” Mr Orru said. “The trends here in the USA continue to show that lightweight remains a key topic. In the area of supply, the in-house manu- facturing of preforms Antonio Orru (left) and Morris De Marchi in Sipa’s foyer and closures has also increased.” Sipa expects further growth both in the beverage and specialties sectors and further believes that hot-fill and aseptic bottling will slowly but steadily expand. www.sipa.it Tour Sponsors: