Oman Refreshment Company (ORC, Seeb / Oman; www.pepsioman.com) has purchased a PET production line from Swiss liquid packaging and equipment supplier Sidel (Hünenberg; www.sidel.com). The “Matrix” Combi12 line has been in operation since February 2015 producing 2.25 litre PET bottles for carbonated soft drinks. The machine can produce 18,000 bottles per hour.

Youssef Ezzikhe, ORC’s general manager, said: “Our collaboration with Sidel started around 16 years ago. With the growing local demand for our products and carbonated soft drinks in general, we approached Sidel again to obtain a production line which will enable us to increase production, and eventually achieve a stronger competitive edge.”

The capacity expansion will help ORC meet double-digit growth in the local carbonated soft drinks market. This sector is the main focus for the company which holds an 89% share of the Omani market. ORC is a franchisee of PepsiCo International (New York / USA; www.pepsico.com), selling drinks including Pepsi, Mountain Dew and 7UP. According to industry estimates, carbonated soft drinks were the most consumed beverage item in Oman last year, totalling 362.4m litres. The market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.3% over the next five years.

The decision to buy Sidel equipment again was made primarily because of the machine’s operating efficiency and the company’s prompt after-sales service, according to ORC’s head of operations, Rosel Ocampo. He said: “By using their machines, we will be able to increase production, cut cost and potentially reduce raw material consumption.” The “Matrix” Combi line can produce lightweight bottles at high speed, thus reducing the amount of PET required. The bottles also include an integrated blow-fill-cap solution meaning that the equipment is not bound by the limitations imposed by air conveyors.