Sidel has introduced the EvoFILL PET, a filling machine designed for water and other uncarbonated beverages in PET bottles.

The equipment was created to help manufacturers raise output while using less floor space and maintaining product quality and line flexibility.

A newly developed filling valve sits at the core of the machine.

The valve was designed after a fluid dynamics study aimed at improving liquid movement during the filling process.

According to the company, this can increase filling speed by as much as 20%, with capacity exceeding 90,000 bottles an hour in a more compact setup.

Sidel said hygiene was a key part of the machine’s development.

The filling valve uses volumetric flowmeter control and a no-contact filling method, which removes the need to replace parts when changing fill levels.

The company said this approach can simplify operations and support hygiene standards across different still beverage products.

It includes automatic clean-in-place (CIP) dummy cups, shorter internal and external cleaning cycles, decreased thermal dispersion, and fewer parts and surfaces requiring cleaning.

These features are intended to reduce downtime, as well as water and chemical use.

According to Sidel, the EvoFILL PET's compact configuration can assist with line integration and leave more available space in the filling area.

The machine is offered in several formats, including standalone, Combi and Super Combi configurations.

It allows producers to choose an arrangement suited to current production needs while keeping scope for future portfolio or volume changes.

Sidel filling product manager Tommaso Tegoni said: "Sidel’s new EvoFILL PET has been engineered to help customers increase output while simplifying operations and maintaining the highest standards of beverage protection, delivering performance without compromise.

“With fast and easy automatic changeovers, the extended lifespan of key components and optimised total cost of ownership, the EvoFILL PET is designed to deliver long-term value alongside high performance.”

Earlier this month, Sidel introduced a tool, which is designed to estimate possible savings in primary packaging under different production scenarios.

Available on the company’s website, the packaging optimisation tool lets users adjust a series of variables and view projected yearly changes in costs and greenhouse gas emissions.