Sidel invests 35 million euros in China to build first multi-product plant

In mid-2008, beverage packaging equipment supplier Sidel will open a new plant in Beijing to produce complete beverage bottling lines for the Chinese market.

The Chinese beverage market is one of the world’s most dynamic, posting annual beverage consumption growth of about seven percent. It is also one of the most competitive. To meet manufacturers’ growing demands for equipment in this sector, Sidel decided to strengthen its presence in China and is investing 35 million euros in a new plant. Work began last May, and Sidel is scheduled to open the doors of its 40,000 square meter Beijing facility in mid-2008. The plant will be Sidel’s first multi-product facility, and it will assemble all equipment found on Sidel’s complete lines, from blow molding to palletizing. 

‘Our objective,’ stated Sidel’s president Grard Stricher, ‘is to become the undisputed leader on the Chinese bottling line market. This plant will enable us to significantly boost our competitiveness by eliminating customs duties and intercontinental shipping costs. We will also be able to offer faster delivery times to our Chinese customers.’

Sidel has been manufacturing products in China since 1995 when it opened its filler manufacturing plant in Beijing and its Tooling center (bottle design, and mold design and manufacturing for PET bottles) in Shanghai.

The plant is being built in the BDA (Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area) industrial zone where some of the biggest international corporations, including Tetra Pak, already have facilities.

Sidel’s plant features a ‘green’ design, says the company. Architectural teams have worked to reduce environmental impact, especially through the use of systems designed to conserve water and electricity. Many of the plant’s interior and exterior building materials are made from natural and recycled products. The site will follow the same manufacturing processes, work practices and quality standards in place at all Sidel plants.