The Sidel group (Octeville-sur-Mer / France; www.sidel.com) has concluded the takeover of PET Engineering (San Vendemiano / Italy; www.petengineering.com). Financial details have not been disclosed. Pavel Shevchuk, executive VP Services at Sidel, said the two companies' complementary strengths in packaging design, qualification and blowing process will bring more opportunities, with packaging "increasingly playing a key role in any marketing mix."

PET Engineering was founded in 1999 and employs around 40 people. Its business includes advice on development and design of preforms and PET containers for water, soft drinks, liquid dairy products and beer, as well as prototyping. The Italian specialist also offers a lightweight design programme, including for rPET containers, with its "Go Green" service. It has a 1,500 m² technology centre with labs and test facilities, as well as its own tooling for blow moulding machines. The company received a "WorldStar Award" (www.worldstar.org) in the Beverages category in 2017, and a 2018 "Golden A' Design Award" (www.competition.adesignaward.com) for packaging design.

Since 2007, PET Engineering also has a site in Moscow / Russia. The company says this branch develops about 80% of all PET beer bottles on the Russian market. In 2015, the Italian company added a second location outside Europe in Shanghai / China.

Sidel is one of three industry groups belonging to Tetra Laval (Pully / Switzerland; www.tetralaval.com). The France-based group supplies beverage packaging equipment, such as aseptic and hot-fill lines, as well as services including packaging design, logistics and training.