Health Water Bottling Company (HWB, Riyadh / Saudi Arabia), part of the Saudi Olayan Group (www.olayan.com), has acquired a complete PET production line from liquid packaging and equipment supplier Sidel (Hünenberg / Switzerland; www.sidel.com). The machinery representing the latest generation of Sidel’s “Matrix” brand products is claimed to have one of the world’s fastest turnover rates. From February 2015, HWB will be able to produce PET water bottles in 330 ml and 600 ml formats at a speed of 134,000 bottles per hour.

The bottling line will be equipped with two Sidel Matrix Combis, integrating blow-fill-cap in one enclosure. Because of the neck-handling and positive transfer of bottles between blow moulding and filling, Sidel said its machinery is not bound by the limitations imposed by air conveyors. Its use will offer HWB greater design freedom in terms of bottle shape and the ability to package lightweight bottles at high speeds. Moreover, the overall efficiency and design of the machinery, along with its lower energy consumption will contribute to “real cost reductions,” the Swiss company added.

Due to its growing population, Saudi demand for bottled water (both still and carbonated) is said to have risen by 52.4% between 2007 and 2012, from 1,063 to 1,620 million litres sold, and is forecast to grow even further in the coming years.