BOTTLING / FILLING PETplanet Insider Vol. 25 No. 05/24 www.petpla.net 36 Sipa and Gepp mark 25 years of successful collaboration Contribution to prosperity in Mexico PET machinery and moulds manufacturer Sipa and Grupo Gepp, the largest bottling group in Mexico, have been working together for 25 years. Gepp holds exclusive rights for bottling PepsiCo throughout its home country and has strategic partnerships with other brands such as Jumex and Alpura. Gepp has experienced high levels of growth, since 2018 especially, and recently invested in the latest editions of Sipa’s Xtra rotary blowmoulders and turnkey filling lines. Alfonso Montoya, Director of Purchasing at Grupo Gepp, explained how Gepp came into being and grew to be a leading bottling company in Mexico’s important market. “Gepp began its consolidated business in 2011, after the integration of the existing operations of the companies Geusa, PBG and Gatorade of Mexico, as well as the entry into business of Empresas Polar of Venezuela,” he explained. “Gepp is the only PepsiCo bottler in Mexico. It has more than 45 plants producing various beverages and located in all operating regions of Mexico and has its own preform production plant, Proplasa. Gepp generates direct employment for more than 42,000 workers, consolidating itself as one of the main employers in the private sector in Mexico.” “We are a business group dedicated to the operation, manufacturing, distribution and marketing of water, carbonated, non-carbonated, isotonic beverages, among others. We are leaders in the production and distribution of water in 20 l bottles. Our portfolio is made up of important brands such as ePura, Pepsi-Cola, Gatorade, Manzanita Sol, Mirinda, 7up, Lipton Tea, Canada Dry, B-Light, Jumex Fresh, among others. Additionally, Gepp is a distributor of Alpura products in the Traditional channel in various territories of the Mexican Republic.” The relationship between Gepp and Sipa goes back to 2003, when Sipa supplied blowing equipment and filling lines for the Geusa plants. Later, Sipa installed an SFR 16 model blower and 144-valve filling line at the Celaya Plant in Guanajuato to produce 3 l Pepsi bottles. The filling plant has become recognised as one of the most efficient in the sector. In 2022, Gepp decided to increase collaboration ties with Sipa and selected it as a strategic technological partner for Gepp’s plant technological renewal program, a process that started with the order for four Xtra blowers and a Gatorade filler. After the successful implementation of this line, which was achieved quickly and with an effective start-up and good levels of service both at the time and after sales, based on the good service, speed of installation, start-up and scope of operational efficiencies, Gepp decided to acquire another 2 Xtra blowmoulders, a complete line for water at 57,000 bph, two lines for soft drinks at 48,000 bph and 14 palletisers. Gepp got Proplasa, its subsidiary, involved in a preform lightening program, with which Sipa is involved as the partner for a lightened neck for PCO 1881 LW bottles. “The choice of Sipa as Gepp’s strategic supplier was confirmed due to its ability to provide adequate technical support in Mexico, structuring a greater number of qualified technicians and a well-organised spare parts warehouse, which guarantees fast and accurate response times,” Montoya said. “In addition, the recognition of Gepp by Xtra for connection to Echo and 4.0 digital services stands out.” [see box] Alfonso Montoya, Director of Purchasing at Grupo Gepp Rotary blowing system Xtra
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