February 17, 2026 15:44
Unveiled by Sidel at drinktec last September, the new EvoBLOW Laser blow-moulder has been running for over a year at Refresco’s Bruchsal facility in Germany as part of a project to reduce bottle weight.
“We've been able to lightweight the bottles while keeping them robust and strong. For us, the real value is the level of control and stability this technology brings to everyday production,” says Gabriele Luna, Head of Indirect Procurement at Refresco.
A distinctive feature of the machine is its use of a laser source, rather than traditional halogen lamps, to heat the preform prior to blowing. This delivers greater precision and more uniform heat distribution, supported by 36 heating lines positioned along the preform.
“Innovations like this support Refresco’s broader ambition to continuously reduce material use, increase recycled content and improve operational efficiency across our European footprint. What’s important for us is that new technologies are scalable, industrially robust and ready for high-volume operations – that’s where they start to make a difference,” Luna adds.
According to the two partners, the EvoBLOW Laser achieved a 15% reduction in material consumption without compromising performance.
Sidel says the technology also delivers higher efficiency and improves line performance and operational ease—particularly when processing recycled PET (rPET). By eliminating warm-up and cool-down times, it enables higher productivity while reducing energy consumption.
The new blow-moulder was tested at Refresco using 100% rPET containers and is currently producing bottles with 50% and 70% rPET using the same blowing settings.
“Every day, I manage many changes of preform or material. With the traditional halogen oven, we often have to adjust the process multiple times. With the laser, you reload a new recipe, start the blower, and the bottle is right the first time. The stability and simplicity of process settings make unplanned stops stress-free for the operators. By eliminating warm up and cool down time, this stable technology is always ready, increasing productivity,” notes Daniel Debruijn, PET Expert at Refresco.
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