EvoDECO® Next

“EvoDECO Next rethinks what is possible with roll-fed labelling. Producers no longer need to choose between industrial efficiency, material reduction and impactful decoration. By enabling partial labels on a simplified roll-fed architecture, we can help customers use less material, create new brand opportunities and maintain the performance their production lines demand,” said Anne Philippe Lafon, Product Manager – Labelling, at Sidel.

Responding to the evolution of PET packaging

PET packaging continues to evolve towards greater material efficiency and circularity, while brands remain under pressure to differentiate on shelf. Much of the industry’s lightweighting work has focused on the bottle itself, from the neck and body to the base. EvoDECO Next extends this thinking to decoration, treating the label as another packaging component that can be optimised.

Traditionally associated with wraparound decoration, roll-fed labelling can now be used with smaller partial labels through EvoDECO Next. By revealing more of the bottle, producers can make the container shape, transparent PET and product part of the visual identity. The result is a premium aesthetic that also reduces the amount of label material required.

Less material, greater brand impact

Depending on the decoration selected, Sidel says partial labelling can reduce label surface by up to 75% compared with a conventional wraparound label. The maximum figure is based on its illustrated 90° partial-label configuration, while a 180° configuration reduces label surface by 50%.

For high-volume producers, partial labelling can deliver significant savings. In one Sidel example, moving from a full wraparound label to a 90° partial label reduced BOPP consumption by 208.4 tonnes per year, cut associated CO₂ emissions by 346 tonnes and generated approximately €723,000 in annual raw material savings ¹. 

The approach also supports Sidel’s broader JUST label proposition, combining sustainability, branding, lower total cost of ownership and simpler technology. By making the uncovered bottle an intentional part of the design, producers can now cut material while retaining strong shelf appeal.

Integrated technology to simplify high-performance production

EvoDECO Next has been engineered as an integrated platform, rather than an existing roll-fed machine adapted for shorter labels. Its architecture combines Cutter 2.0, Smart Buffer, Smart Camera and High-Speed changeover parts, with feeding, cutting, transfer and control designed to work seamlessly together.

At the heart of the new partial-labelling capability is the new cutting system, positioned directly on the transfer drum. The rotary cutting device handles shorter labels using two blades cutting faster at high speed. 

The Smart Buffer is designed to absorb reel changes without variation in production speed. Its lean configuration requires no additional footprint or changes to the standard film path and allows the splicing operation to be managed at the nominal speed, helping protect overall production efficiency.

Meanwhile, the Smart Camera enables reference-mark-free label management. Removing the conventional reference mark and quiet zone increases raw-material and label flexibility, while creating further opportunities for material savings. Dedicated software supports autocorrection, improved auto-homing and enhanced diagnostics.
New high speed Changeover parts further support machine autonomy and process robustness. An optimised sliding surface and air-blade system are designed to minimise glue cross-contamination and label stress, helping extend machine autonomy by up to five times while reducing related unplanned stops.

Simplifying operations from reel to label

EvoDECO Next can also be combined with Sidel’s CoboREEL® automated reel-management solution, which reduces operator intervention, provides embedded traceability and supports greater production autonomy, of up to 18 reels.

Across the labelling station, Sidel has also simplified key elements to support faster, changeovers, easier maintenance and consistent uptime.

Building on 50 years of Sidel labelling expertise, more than 330 EvoDECO machines sold since launch and over 5,000 Sidel labellers installed worldwide, EvoDECO Next extends packaging optimisation beyond the PET bottle, helping producers make every label count through less material, greater decoration freedom and simplified production.

[1] Calculation assumptions: Based on a 61,000 bottles-per-hour production line producing approximately 459 million bottles annually. Label surface area reduced from 20,160 mm² to 5,040 mm² per bottle by moving from a full wraparound label to a 90° partial label configuration. CO₂ and cost savings are based on Sidel modelling assumptions and may vary depending on product, material specification and operating conditions.