Sidel’s solution improves Orangina Suntory France’s performance

The challenge

Suntory Group is one of the oldest and largest beverage distribution companies in Japan. It acquired the French company Orangina in 2009 and dominates the French beverage market with more than 350 product references. With nine bottle formats from 0.2l to one litre being manufactured on the line for four brands – Oasis, Pulco, Maytea and O’verger – Orangina Suntory France was looking for a new accumulation solution that could take care of various formats and shapes, including square bottles that are not suited to traditional mass accumulation solutions. The new accumulation solution also had to be able to cover a wide range of outputs from 27,000 to 45,000 bottles per hour and provide extensive buffer capacity from three to five minutes of net accumulation to secure the overall line efficiency.

The solution

Taking into account the large number of products being handled, Sidel proposed the largest available model of the Gebo AQFlex range. Gebo AQFlex was a perfect choice to address the versatility of the line, offering a new level of flexibility due to its single-lane, contactless and smooth product handling.

The outcome

By covering such a wide range of outputs, Gebo AQFlex has immensely contributed to preserving Orangina Suntory France’s product quality with smooth and contactless product handling. Another key buying factor was its compactness, offering greater accumulation/space ratio compared to traditional systems and enabling easy integration into a limited space, which was the case at the Orangina Suntory France site. Its flexibility gives the customer the option of creating attractive packaging designs with different shapes. As of today, the solution is running at a high 99.5% efficiency level. The proven performance of Gebo AQFlex and the overall success of the project led to an order and installation of another Gebo AQFlex at Orangina Suntory France’s site in Donnery, France, and a further order for two units for Nagano, Japan.

"“Sidel’s Gebo AQFlex is quite easy to use as it offers simple and automatic changeovers with just a few clicks on the Human Machine Interface (HMI) and minor mechanical interventions on the infeed and outfeed conveyors.”"

Hubert Couppey

Project Manager, Operations Development Department, Orangina Suntory France

Thanks to Sidel’s assistance, Bickford’s launched two new PET formats for their premium syrup and juice brands, to complement previously designed and commissioned 1 litre formats.

In collaboration with Sidel, Cervecería y Maltería Quilmes – the largest drinks company in Argentina – has reached high levels of up to 100% efficiency on its most recent complete hot-fill line, as part of its pursuit of excellence.

The company’s investment in two new complete lines has made it a major beverage player in the West African sub-region, with five Sidel production lines.