Cervecería y Maltería Quilmes 2020

The challenge

Quilmes has been operating in Argentina for over 130 years. Over that time, Quilmes has expanded across beverage categories by acquiring a carbonated soft drink business and PepsiCo’s exclusive franchise for the production, distribution and marketing of the brand's full line of beverages in Argentina. Quilmes’ objectives were to increase its local market share with a bigger and more modern line offering lower energy consumption and better efficiency.

The solution

Based on previous positive experience, plus the need for a complete solution, the Argentinian company renewed its trust in Sidel by asking it to install a new hot-fill bottling line. The line is able to hot-fill isotonic drinks, juices and products with or without pulp. It is also capable of cold-fill. The line includes the plant’s first Sidel Combi blow-filler, which provides many advantages in line with Quilmes’ commitment to protecting the environment.

The outcome

With its new investment in Sidel’s line, Quilmes has more than doubled its capacity to produce beverages in PET containers, from 22,000 to 45,000 bottles per hour (bph). The new line offers advantages in terms of production flexibility and in sustainability through its energy savings. Another advantage of working with Sidel which Quilmes recognised early on was its technical support service, both from its Field Service Engineers (FSE) and remotely. In the case of any emergency, this service provides 24-hour FSE assistance. Alternatively, remotely-connected support personnel can recommend the best solution.

"“We were convinced by the good experience we have had with a variety of Sidel equipment. Sidel showed the necessary flexibility and were able to provide a solution, creating a better model of efficiency and production quality for us. In a nutshell, we would recommend Sidel. It is a company with an enormous track record in the beverage world as well as cutting-edge technology, services and support. I would be very happy to work with Sidel again in the future.”"

Juan Josè Ferrer

Plant Manager, Quilmes

Sidel has supported Coca-Cola to transition to tethered caps and lighter bottles in line with the changes required by the single-use plastic (SUP) law effective from July 2024.

Peruvian company Industrias San Miguel (ISM) currently has seven lines producing PET bottles, five of which are equipped with blow moulding machines supplied by Sidel. ISM recently installed a Sidel Matrix Combi.

When Unilever South Africa wanted to increase production capacity at its Durban plant, it looked for the supplier that could provide the most efficient and cost-effective solution – and invested in a machine from Sidel.