K2004: Two new sales for SIG’s PET barrier system

Plasmax machines will go to bottle makers in the US and Japan.

SIG has sold two further Plasmax barrier coating systems – one each to a US and a Japanese customer.

Speaking at a K press conference last week, managing director Dr Olaf Weiland said the US machine, which will be used to coat small bottles, would be shipped before Christmas to begin production in the spring. The Japanese order was secured in the past few weeks.

This brings the total of Plasmax machines sold to four. The first industrial field-test machine, installed at Bina in Switzerland, started producing juice bottles for Swiss supermarkets in June this year.

The second Plasmax machine installed began commercial production at the start of October. Japanese-firm Hokkai can is producing bottles for edible oils, Weiland said.

Sig and Schott recently set up a joint venture to develop their Plasmax barrier coating technology for PET bottles.