EDITOUR PETplanet Insider Vol. 23 No. 09/22 www.petpla.net 16 Highest turnover despite pandemic July 26, 2022 We met: Josep Jimenez, Sales Manager Side S.A. Spanish plant manufacturer Side S.A. is a good example of lockdowns and pandemics not having to be the worst-case scenario for a company. Through pre-emptive action and close collaboration with customers, the company not only managed in 2021 to generate the best sales in its company history, but at the same time launched several innovations in the SBM and maintenance sectors. Side S.A. is known as a mediumsized supplier of blow moulding machines, especially those that produce bottles with complex technical refinements, e.g. oval bottles, bottles with complicated designs for cosmetics, or large-volume bottles with handles. But recently, in L’Ametlla del Vallès near Barcelona in Spain, a system series is also being produced that relies more firmly on speed and maximum efficiency. “We are a small company but we are listening to what our customers are saying,” says Josep Jiménez, Sales Manager at Side. “And bottle makers are interested in speed.” So the company has developed the new Series 3000, which comes with up to 8 cavities and has an output of up to 18,000 bph (see also Drinktec preview report p. 32). The company’s customer base, mainly in the water, edible oil/condiments and detergents sectors, is happily adopting the new product. Three systems from the 3000 range have already been installed for customers in Brazil, Spain and the Dominican Republic. Depending on customer requirements, Side also undertakes complete installation including blowing, rotary filler and capping monobloc systems. This customer base from the water / beverages filling sector is a particular target for the high-speed lines. But to the pleasant surprise of the company, simple bottle producers are also showing an interest in the new high-speed solutions for more niche customer orders. Innovations are also abundant in the existing machine park. As a further development of the 2-cavity machinery 1002e, on which bottles up to 2.5 l can be manufactured at an output of up to 3,800 bph, Side also brought onto the market the enhanced model 1022e 160 with an output of 4,000 bph and up to 80mm neck finish. Bottles up to 3 l in volume can be blown thanks to an increase in the centre distance of the moulds inside the machine. To meet the design demands of customers from the detergent industry, it has also been possible to enlarge the surface area. Also launched this year was the 2002eG XL system, which is driving the expansion of large-volume bottles for water coolers or edible oil. Bottles up to 25 l or up to 20 l as singleuse variants are manufactured on the 2-cavity machine at 2,500 bph. “This is the highest speed for these volumes currently available on the market,” says Jimenez. Using extreme situations correctly With so much desire to innovate, it’s no wonder that Side has generated the highest turnover in its company history with growth of 20% in the pandemic year of 2021. Of the 20 million euros, around 35-40% is attributed to the growing blow moulding department. With regard to electronic components, it plays into the company’s strengths that they can rely on inhouse products from the Side Automatización business unit; other companies are currently enduring long waits for these. “When Side was founded in 1974, it was a company for industrial electronics cabinets,” explains Jimenez. “And like never before, electronic components make up a significant Tour Sponsors: Josep Jimenez and Gabriele Kosmehl by Gabriele Kosmehl Josep Jimenez explains the double booster system which increases the diameter of the preform before blowing.
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