MASSIVE COST SAVINGS FROM NEW TECHNOLOGY

I don’t really do technology. My focus is primarily on society and consumers, brands and producers. But at our Global Soft Drinks Congress a fortnight ago in Germany, I was particularly impressed by six supplier presentations that showed how much can be saved in operating costs by pushing to the limits of new technology.

• Water usage can be reduced by 70% using Sidel’s dry sterilisation process, along with numerous other efficiency improvements in energy, cleaning and compressed air.
• Integrated energy production facilities from ContourGlobal can increase bottling efficiency by over 40%, accompanied by other benefits for energy and CO2, carbon and air emissions.
• 50% PET weight reductions in bottle neck threads were demonstrated by Sipa.
• Further 35% lightweighting opportunities for caps were presented by Bericap.
• A 74% carbon footprint reduction was offered by CCL through switching to super stretch sleeve labels instead of shrink sleeves.
• Up to 50% sales increases have been achieved by use of Frigoglass ice cold merchandisers.

For more information on the Congress presentations, go to www.zenithinternational.com/events. If you have other significant cost saving examples, please do send them to me.