News - Serac Serac 10/26/2016 Virtual Packaging Line - Serac inside Virtual Packaging Line - Serac inside Put on your virtual reality headset. Are you ready? Off we go on our unusual journey. A 3 minute voyage through the center of a packaging line. Thrills guaranteed. Once settled inside the capsule wearing their virtual reality headsets, visitors to the all4pack trade show in Paris Villepinte (13-17 Nov.) will be able to experience "from the inside" the journey of a product along a full packaging line. This virtual voyage will begin inside Serac's blowing, filling and capping system and will physically take place on the Geppia stand (Hall4 Stand B39). Tickets will be made available to sales representatives so that guests can have priority access to the device. This "serious game" project, involving more than forty manufacturers and suppliers, has allowed an insight into the possibilities offered by virtual reality and augmented reality.

This project presents an amazing research opportunity for the creation of new services in maintenance and training, as well as for collaborative design and the presentation of new products.Serac will undoubtedly have to take advantage of these new technologies in the near future in order to maintain its level of excellence. Download press release Serac takes a stake in the equity of Xpertech In April 2016, Serac has become a minority shareholder in Xpertech, a start-up company specialising in diagnostics for industrial equipment, located in Evry in the Essone region (91). This three-man company was created in 2013 by Gilles Morvan, and achieved a turnover of 200 000 Euros in 2015 with year-on-year growth of over 30%. Whilst this merger will allow Xpertech to gain credibility by joining forces with an industrial partner, Serac will also be able to expand its services by offering two ... In April 2016, Serac has become a minority shareholder in Xpertech, a start-up company specialising in diagnostics for industrial equipment, located in Evry in the Essone region (91).

This three-man company was created in 2013 by Gilles Morvan, and achieved a turnover of 200 000 Euros in 2015 with year-on-year growth of over 30%. Whilst this merger will allow Xpertech to gain credibility by joining forces with an industrial partner, Serac will also be able to expand its services by offering two web-based solutions : XSED, a simple solution to manage the maintenance of equipment in real time and NET-TAG, a solution to identify individually each product and enable interaction with consumers. XSED, a simple, easy to install monitoring system. XSED is a web-solution developed by Xpertech to manage the maintenance of equipment in real time. Clip-on detectors, called "Cl@ps", can be installed without intruding on the equipment's electrical power cables. Captors detect active and stoppage phases, transmitting the information via a wireless radio system to an on-line exchange which feeds into the XSED server. Thanks to its location within the Genopole, a business incubator specialising in biotechnology grouped around Genethon, Xpertech has access to the research centre's powerful servers.

The information is then stored on a Cloud, where it is entered and managed so as to send email alerts, maintenance reminders, performance calculations, energy reports or detect peaks in consumption. The "Cl@ps" can also count items and measure physical dimensions, detecting thresholds and sending email alerts. Xpertech has just installed this monitoring system at Rouiba, one of Serac’s customers in Algeria, who uses an aseptic beverages packaging line. NET-TAG, Xpertech's other flagship product NET-TAG is an application that opens the possibility of tracking products (bottles, dispensers, packs, etc.), transforming them into connected objects that communicate with the consumer. Depending on the amount of information required, it uses either an encrypted QR code, personalised for each package and printed in real time, or an NFC label containing all the data. The printed or loaded data is stored on Xpertech's server, guaranteeing traceability.

At the other end of the chain, through his mobile phone, the consumer has access to detailed data sheets, recommendations for use, videos for new products, and can find out if he has won a competition organised by the manufacturer, or receive an alert when the product is out of date, or has been recalled due to a problem etc. In fact, anything the marketing department can think of to provide the client with better information or increase customer loyalty. Download press release SAS 5 SB Aseptic Ready, an ultra-clean solution easily convertible into aseptic Eager to offer manufacturers a maximum of possibilities in terms of investment, Serac proposes a new ultra-clean packaging line that can easily and at lower costs be converted into an aseptic line. Mainly dedicated to dairy products, the SAS 5 SB Aseptic Ready anticipates the development of UHT milk drinks packed in HDPE bottles. Maximum safety and flexibility for ultra-clean packaging Serac, a specialist in the packaging of sensitive products for over 45 years, proposes the SAS 5 SB Aseptic Ready high-performance filling solution in terms of hygiene and food safety.

The line benefits from all of Serac’s knowledge experience in this field (weight filling without any contact between the neck and the filling nozzle, easy-to-clean filling zone, centralized cleaning system) and from a reinforced hygienic design which makes this equipment usable for the packaging of all refrigerated dairy products, including ESL (extended shelf life) . Using sterile blown HDPE bottles in which necks are cut just before filling, the line eliminates internal cleaning of the bottle with disinfectant solutions. This is an asset for manufacturers who want to spotlight a production process with as few chemical products as possible. The SAS 5 SB Aseptic Ready has also been designed to offer maximum performance and flexibility in production and is adapted for markets with increasingly wide product ranges : neck transfer of bottles makes it easy to fill different sizes and shapes fast tooling changeovers with a «plug and play» system which avoids mistakes and adjustments easier cleaning through optimized design and volumes simplified and safe maintenance with an easy access, most often out of the working zone reduced footprint Minimum investment for aseptic upgrade Specifically designed to be easily converted into an aseptic line, the SAS 5 SB Aseptic Ready only requires a few changes to be upgraded.

It will be necessary to replace the existing tank with a sterilizable one and to install systems to clean and sterilize both the circuits and the cabin surfaces. Cabin doors will also be exchanged for a model that includes glove compartments. All other technical requirements for aseptic packaging are already integrated. This scalable line also offers more flexibility in production tool management by allowing a quick reaction at lower costs to strategic developments such as production reallocations or launching of new product ranges An ideal solution to stay current with the development of dairy products packed in bottles The number of refrigerated dairy products packed in bottles is still growing strongly on a worldwide scale with the development of drinking yogurts, fermented milks, pasteurized white and flavored milks, coffee creamers. Bottles are also increasingly used for non-refrigerated products, especially in small and medium sizes (white, flavored or supplemented milks, soya milks, infant milks). UHT milk drinks packed in small bottles perfectly meet consumers’ need for on-the-go consumption of these products (at school, at gym, at work) since they offer them a reclosable and easy to handle solution.

By investing in a SAS 5 SB Aseptic Ready packaging line, manufacturers provide themselves with the possibility to stay current with this long-term trend and potentially seize new opportunities through a quick upgrade of their production tool towards the packaging of UHT products in bottles that do not require a cold chain. An expert in filling solutions for dairy products, Serac is committed to providing manufacturers with flexible and scalable solutions that fulfill the highest standards for hygiene and adapt to their product, process and packaging particulars. Download press release Make your bottle and its decoration in one step (No labeler or sleeve applicator is required). Very successful in the drinking yogurt market with its vertical thermoforming machines that allow bottle production from PS or PP reels, Serac has recently gone a step further by adapting its simple, efficient and reliable solution to the thermoforming of bottles out of pre-printed PP reels. Very successful in the drinking yogurt market with its vertical thermoforming machines that allow bottle production from PS or PP reels, Serac has recently gone a step further by adapting its simple, efficient and reliable solution to the thermoforming of bottles out of pre-printed PP reels.

The technical challenges of this new development were to define precisely the features required for the PP sheet as well as for the printing inks and to provide perfect positioning of the printed reel together with precise advance rate control. For this particular application, Serac has equipped its machines with sensors and sets of cameras that ensure fast initial machine setting with minimum waste, and systematically check that the PP sheet is at the right place for the next stroke during production. With this new development Serac probably offers the smallest footprint ever for on-site bottle manufacturing, using a vertical thermoforming process and requiring no labeler or sleeve applicator. 06/29/2015 Roll N Blow technology received the Best Dairy Manufacturing / Process Innovation Award at the 9th Global Dairy Congress Roll N Blow technology received the Best Dairy Manufacturing / Process Innovation Award at the 9th Global Dairy Congress On June 24th, Serac received the World Dairy Innovation Award 2015 in the Manufacturing / Process Innovation category for its Roll N Blow technology, which enable to produce bottles out of PS and PP reels.

More information about Roll N Blow technology on On June 24th, Serac received the World Dairy Innovation Award 2015 in the Manufacturing / Process Innovation category for its Roll N Blow technology, which enable to produce bottles out of PS and PP reels. More information about Roll N Blow technology on Download press release Lighten quality control procedures Having obtained from LNE a CE « Automatic Weighing Instrument » (AWI) type approval certificate for its rotary fillers, Serac can now propose filling machines that can be used in legal metrology to any manufacturer willing to lighten quality control procedures, safeguard operators’ health and reinforce guarantees towards customers. Having obtained from LNE a CE « Automatic Weighing Instrument » (AWI) type approval certificate for its rotary fillers, Serac can now propose filling machines that can be used in legal metrology to any manufacturer willing to lighten quality control procedures, safeguard operators’ health and reinforce guarantees towards customers. Weight and measure homologation : inescapable for lighter control procedures Whatever the precision level of the filling material used by a manufacturer, conformity with the nominal quantity printed on the packaging can only be testified by carrying control tests on a separate equipment (checkweigher or certified scale).

However, using a filling machine homologated for legal metrology allows to drastically lighten the control procedures and reduce tests to a few samples per batch. Less money invested in equipment and less time spent in statistical testing Volumetric and flowmetering filling systems can in no case, because of the technology they use, be homologated for legal metrology. With such systems, the only way to make quality control less burdensome is to check every single packing getting out of the filling station by means of an automated device such as an homologated checkweigher. Adding such a device to a filling line not only implies to invest an important amount of money, but also adds complexity to the process with an additional machine and all it implies (maintenance costs, possible breakdowns and thus decreasing efficiency of the production line). Manufacturers who don’t want to invest on unitary control devices must test manually a representative statistical sample of their production. But manual weighing on a certified scale (NAWI) takes time and is a potential source of error. It is thus interesting to reduce this operation to a strict minimum. This is exactly what can be done with Serac’s homologated weight fillers.

Using such a machine, the manufacturer can testify that his filling unit complies with essential European requirements for quality and production monitoring, and thus content himself with checking from time to time that his dosing system still functions properly. This allows to reduce drastically the frequency of sampling as well as the quantity of packagings to be tested. More safety for operators Besides saving a great amount of time, taking far less samples out of the line for testing purpose also benefits to the health and safety of machine operators, especially when it comes to handling heavy packagings or dangerous products. More guarantees for the consumer Homologated equipment is an additional guarantee brought to consumers, that reinforce confidence in the fact that the quantity of product inside the packaging really complies with what is written on it. It is also a good selling point for sub-contracting manufacturers who package products under third party brands. Finally, it is also an opportunity for manufacturers to enter some markets more easily and at lower costs, be those markets the European Community or any country (they are increasingly numerous) where legal metrology is seen as a strategic issue in order to protect consumers’ interests. Serac obtains from LNE a CE type approval certificate for its latest generation of weight fillers.

Relying on the metrological quality of its electronic scales and the dosing accuracy of its filling machines, Serac obtained from LNE a CE AWI type approval certificate for its rotary fillers. This certificate allows from now on any manufacturer willing to do so to have his own Serac equipment homologated through an initial verification carried out on his production site by a designated body. An annual review of the equipment will then be sufficient to renew the homologation. For owners of older filling machines from Serac, homologation can still be considered, provided that some components are upgraded. Download press release Roll N Blow Thermoforming: as easy with PP as with PS First developed for PS bottles, Serac’s Roll N Blow technology now applies to PP thermoforming for more versatility First developed for PS bottles, Serac’s Roll N Blow technology now applies to PP thermoforming for more versatility With 2 new machines sold in Europe for on-site manufacturing of dairy drinks bottles out of PP reels, Serac confirms the benefits and reliability of its innovative Roll N Blow vertical thermoforming technology for both PS and PP materials.

Cost-efficient, space-saving and easy to operate, Roll N Blow machines become truly versatile with this new material option and offer dairy and food manufacturers a wide variety of possibilities to safely enter new single-serve market segments. Roll N Blow Thermoforming: as easy with PP as with PS Designed as a light and secured solution for manufacturing bottles on-site, out of plastic reels, the Roll N Blow technology is very simple to operate. As it requires no particular experience of bottle manufacturing, it is a good option for dairy and food companies willing to diversify their product range and upgrade their offer with small bottle packaging (ranging from 100 up to 500 ml). With Roll N Blow machines adapted to the specific properties of PP, producing bottles from this material with such technology is as simple as for PS. All it requires is a proper specification of the plastic sheet. With PP thermoforming, the ground-breaking Roll N Blow Technology can now benefit new market segments Providing a better barrier against moisture and withstanding higher temperatures than PS, PP is also more flexible (shock resistant) and shows a better chemical stability than PS.

All these specific properties allow PP to be used for a wider range of products than PS, which is mostly used for chilled products with short shelf life (pasteurized milks, drinking yogurts, probiotics). New market segments that can benefit from the Roll N Blow Technology include ESL dairy drinks as well as non-refrigerated ones such as sterilized milks, UHT flavored milk drinks. It is also possible to consider producing PP bottles with barrier such as EVOH, to bring oxygen barrier to the container for liquid food products such as sauces, baby food, soups. A wide variety of bottle design possibilities available with a single technology The vertical thermoforming process of Roll N Blow first forms the plastic sheet into a pipe before heating and blowing the bottle into a mold. As a consequence, bottles are not limited to large necks and small heights, can be shaped totally round and, show no difference compared to blow molded ones. With PP complementing PS as base material, this affordable and secured technology shows almost no limits in terms of bottle design. Manufacturers can now consider using the Roll N Blow Technology to produce white, colored, printed, opaque or transluscent bottles with either a blown neck, fitting standard caps dimensions or, a reduced calibrated neck.

Bottles can be sealed with an aluminum foil or a plastic cap. Finally PP bottles can be microwavable or squeezable which are interesting options for convenience liquid food. Roll N Blow complements Serac’s offer for on-site bottle manufacturing By acquiring 100% of its former partner Agami (the inventor company of Roll N Blow) in 2014, Serac Group has expanded its range of on-site bottle manufacturing solutions from PET (with Combox) to PS and PP (with Roll N Blow). 03/09/2015 Blown from a 2,3g PET preform Blown from a 2,3g PET preform Serac has installed a blow-fill-cap machine in Brazil (Combox), for the packaging of 50g yoghurt portions presented in an attractive fruit-shaped PET flask. Serac has installed a blow-fill-cap machine in Brazil (Combox), for the packaging of 50g yoghurt portions presented in an attractive fruit-shaped PET flask.

High precision stretch blow-moulding for tiny preforms Blown from a PET preform of only 2.3 g, with nearly half of the mass concentrated in the neck, the fruit-shaped flask requires an expansion rate of 16 (4 times in both length and width), which is extreme in this industry. On such tiny preforms, the SBL blower from Serac clearly demonstrates a high level of precision in heating, stretching and blowing operations. With our new blow-fill-cap Combox unit in operation, Serac demonstrates the benefits as well as the versatility of its single block solution. Download press release Bottle manufacturing made simple with Roll N Blow thermoforming technology With the Roll N Blow thermoforming machine, dairy companies can efficiently manufacture their own bottles with a material they know well and equipment easy to install and operate. Designed for chilled dairy products and packed in PS bottles ranging from 100ml up to 500ml, Serac’s Roll N Blow is also able to produce bottles from PP reels thus offering more possibilities such as aseptic filling, hot filling, retort and microwavable packaging. This machine will be on display at Interpack ...

With the Roll N Blow thermoforming machine, dairy companies can efficiently manufacture their own bottles with a material they know well and equipment easy to install and operate. Designed for chilled dairy products and packed in PS bottles ranging from 100ml up to 500ml, Serac’s Roll N Blow is also able to produce bottles from PP reels thus offering more possibilities such as aseptic filling, hot filling, retort and microwavable packaging. This machine will be on display at Interpack 2014 trade show. Hall 13 / C63. A ground-breaking technology to make bottles The Roll N Blow machine uses an innovative tubular thermoforming technology to produce bottles from plastic reels. The machine was originally designed to process polystyrene, a material widely used in dairies for the production of yoghurts in thermoformed cup (Form-Fill-Seal technology). Polystyrene reels can thus be used for producing either cups or bottles, allowing manufacturers to take advantage of a single supply source. Inspired by the conventional flat thermoforming technology, the Roll N Blow solution has been specifically adapted to produce bottles that appear no different to blow moulded ones.

Innovation lies in a vertical thermoforming process that first forms the plastic sheet into a tube before heating and blowing the bottle into a mould. As a result, bottle designs are not limited to large necks and small heights and can be shaped totally round. Bottles also show a better resistance to vertical compression than with flat thermoforming. A secondary benefit of the vertical thermoforming process is the reduced footprint of the packaging production unit. Cost effective, from investment to day-to-day operations Designed as a stream-lined solution for on-site bottle manufacturing, the Roll N Blow machine requires less equipment than a conventional moulding unit. Storage tanks and unscramblers can be avoided, as the bottle goes straight from the Roll N Blow to the filler. Even sleeve applicators are no longer necessary since the Roll N Blow can process pre-printed plastic sheets. Producing bottles from material in reels also saves a lot all along the supply process, from manufacturing to transport and storage. Finally, the Roll N Blow technology consumes far less energy than other blowing systems, as bottles are blown at low pressure (less than 6 bars) and at low temperature (under 150°C).

A secured solution for migration from pouches or cartons to single serve bottles The Roll N Blow process requires no melting of the plastic. Therefore, very little expertise in plastic processing is required and the unit can be easily started and shut down to suit filling requirements. The use of plastic sheets ensures a uniform distribution of the material without having to monitor advanced parameters in the heating and blowing process. Very similar to the manufacturing of pouches from plastic foils or carton packages from carton reels, the Roll N Blow machine is very simple to operate even without experience of bottle manufacturing. It is therefore a secure option for dairy companies willing to diversify their product range and upgrade their offer with small bottle packaging. The technology has already been adopted by companies in Russia and Morocco for the packaging of drinking yoghurt. Roll N Blow complements Serac’s offer for on-site bottle manufacturing By acquiring 100% of its former partner Agami (the inventor company of Roll N Blow), Serac Group expands its range of on-site bottle manufacturing solutions from PET (with Combox) to PS and PP (with Roll N Blow).

The processing of polypropylene reels on Serac’s Roll N Blow, which is already operational, opens new possibilities in terms of aseptic and hot filled, retort and microwavable packaging. Download press release The Combox unit proves ideal for single serve packaging Serac has recently installed a new blow-fill-cap machine in Brazil, for the packaging of 50 g yoghurt portions presented in an attractive fruit-shaped PET flask. By taking up the challenge of blowing and filling such a light and delicate package, Serac opens new perspectives for all dairy and food manufacturers willing to develop single serve packaging or lightweight bottle ... Serac has recently installed a new blow-fill-cap machine in Brazil, for the packaging of 50 g yoghurt portions presented in an attractive fruit-shaped PET flask. By taking up the challenge of blowing and filling such a light and delicate package, Serac opens new perspectives for all dairy and food manufacturers willing to develop single serve packaging or lightweight bottle in order to answer economic issues or meet on-the-go consumption needs. A Combox machine will be on display at Interpack 2014 – Hall 13 / C63 (Photo).

High precision stretch blow-moulding for tiny preforms Blown from a PET preform of only 2.3 g, with nearly half of the mass concentrated in the neck, the fruit-shaped flask requires an expansion rate of 16 (4 times in both length and width), which is extreme in this industry. On such tiny preforms, the SBL blower from Serac clearly demonstrates a high level of precision in heating, stretching and blowing operations. Specific transfer system, ideal for light and unsteady packages The 100% positive neck transfer system patented by Serac ensures that the packages will move along the process without ever touching each other, which is a must to avoid any damage. Based on a starwheel system that compensates for the difference in pitch between the blowing and filling functions, it allows the direct coupling of Serac’s SBL blower with any rotary weigh filler. Narrow neck calls for most accurate filling and new capping solutions With a neck diameter of 20 mm, the slightest deviation under the filling nozzles can have dramatic effects. This is why Serac has included a servo-driven transfer system that ensures top-of-class positioning and filling accuracy. The cap was a challenge as well.

A 20 mm sealed cap would have been almost impossible to open, so Serac designed a specific, oversized aluminium strip together with a new die press tool to achieve an hygienic and user-friendly seal. With this new blow-fill-cap Combox unit in operation, Serac demonstrates the benefits as well as the versatility of its single block solution. Download press release Serac Group acquires 100% of shares in Agami The French group Serac has purchased 100% of the shares in Agami, company located in Trappes, West of Paris. Serac Group had acquired a minority participation in Agami’s capital in 2010. Serac Group initially invested in Agami in order to support their groundbreaking innovation for which they held high hopes: manufacturing polystyrene bottles from a plastic sheet (PS). Serac has been supporting Agami’s development, providing an outlet for their machines and assisting in fine ... The French group Serac has purchased 100% of the shares in Agami, company located in Trappes, West of Paris. Serac Group had acquired a minority participation in Agami’s capital in 2010.

Serac Group initially invested in Agami in order to support their groundbreaking innovation for which they held high hopes: manufacturing polystyrene bottles from a plastic sheet (PS). Serac has been supporting Agami’s development, providing an outlet for their machines and assisting in fine tuning their design. Several machines have been delivered for small size dairy bottles. Serac believes in the high potential of Agami's offering, which is perfectly compatible with Serac's strategy of diversifying into the packaging manufacturing market. The technological challenges have all been met; the focus is now on investing in financial and human resources to increase sales. Concurrently developing new applications such as PP bottles manufacturing (polypropylene) and multi-layered bottles is forecasted to bring additional growth. Agami’s founder, Stylianos Eleftheriou, is appointed General Manager and will lead the Research and Development department. Download press release A 32% increase in sales for Serac The French manufacturer of packaging machines has broken the 100 million Euro barrier, largely thanks to the dairy product market.

Specialized in packaging machines for dairy products, detergents and edible oils, Serac has registered a 32% increase in consolidated sales, with a total of 120 million Euros for the 2012-13 financial year. Taking account of the 20% increase already chalked up in the previous financial year, revenue has increased by 60% in two years. The French manufacturer of packaging machines has broken the 100 million Euro barrier, largely thanks to the dairy product market. Specialized in packaging machines for dairy products, detergents and edible oils, Serac has registered a 32% increase in consolidated sales, with a total of 120 million Euros for the 2012-13 financial year. Taking account of the 20% increase already chalked up in the previous financial year, revenue has increased by 60% in two years. This performance places Serac in a good position to reach its 2017 target of 140 million Euros, one of the objectives of its five year strategy.

All the same, the group expects to see weaker overall results in the next two years and is counting on the launch of its latest design, a PET bottle blowing-filling-capping machine, to boost sales and help meet the target. The dynamic dairy market, in which Serac is well established, has had a positive influence on Serac’s performance, as has the group’s international presence. The dairy product market, which accounts for 45% of sales of machines and related services on average over the last 4 years, is still growing. Much of this increase can be attributed to a rise in sales of aseptic bottled milk packaging machines within the EMEA and the growth of Greek yoghurt cups in the USA. Serac earns almost 90% of its revenue overseas. The company opened an office in Jakarta, Indonesia earlier this year. 11/19/2013 Serac group delivered its seventh Nova cup filling line to Chobani. Serac group delivered its seventh Nova cup filling line to Chobani.

The seventh cup filling line to enter Chobani’s production sites is a specific, high-tech Nova Linea multilayer filling line that is installed in Melbourne, Australia, to produce a dessert made of five layers of both yoghurt and fruit. At the time of the line acceptance, Chobani’s project leaders were asked to share their feelings about the cooperation with Serac Group. And for them, once again, Serac Group honoured its commitments. The seventh cup filling line to enter Chobani’s production sites is a specific, high-tech Nova Linea multilayer filling line that is installed in Melbourne, Australia, to produce a dessert made of five layers of both yoghurt and fruit. At the time of the line acceptance, Chobani’s project leaders were asked to share their feelings about the cooperation with Serac Group. And for them, once again, Serac Group honoured its commitments. «Nova cup filling machines efficiency and throughput are second to none». Hugh Roddy - Senior Director Global Automation, Chobani USA. Outstanding quality and product innovation made the success of Chobani. No doubt therefore that these two criteria have been decisive in chosing Serac Group as their filling lines supplier.

Chobani’s staff members confirm as they outline the reliability and the efficiency of Nova cup filling machines, a must for this booming manufacturer, who intends to run its factories 24/7. But the Serac Group know-how and flexibility were also highly appreciated as they allowed to adapt to Chobani’s needs all along their project. «Transition to Serac group was very smooth for us. And it is still easy to work together as we are growing and expanding across the world». Hugh Roddy. Proximity with customers is what Serac Group is striving for all around the world. Being it in the U.S, Australia or Canada, Serac has put forward its best forces to keep close to Chobani’s people on all levels. Close cooperation proved successful and both teams really have enjoyed working together. «You showed a passion and care about the products we make and which we are passionate about». Stephen Butler - Business Unit Manager, Chobani Australia (Melbourne). Driven by the passion that animates Chobani and deeply engaged in their tasks, the Serac Group teams gave the best of themselves on each project to guarantee the utmost respect for quality and hygiene that Chobani’s yoghurts deserve.

10/24/2013 Cups filling machine - New website for Nova Cups filling machine - New website for Nova The Nova filling units that equip linear or rotary machines are designed to fill products with very different characteristics: caramel, honey, fruit sauce, jam, cream, yoghurt, cheese, compote, ... Nova manufactures packaging machines for various products in cups, tubs. Specialist in linear or rotary cup filling machines, Nova has been working for a long time with the major brands of the dairy industry. Viscous, flowing, with or without particles, expending products... Whatever the characteristics of the products, the priority is to preserve their organoleptic (appearence, taste, texture) and nutritional qualities during packaging operations 10/14/2013 Success for the Combox H2F at Drinktec Success for the Combox H2F at Drinktec For its world premiere at Drinktec, this new blow-fill-cap single-block solution attracted a record number of visitors on Serac booth. The Combox H2F is the solution for dairy companies which want to manufacture their own bottles on site with an output inferior of 12 000 bottles per hour.

Many of whom submitted a project during the exhibition. Come discover on your own the Combox H2F in Chicago, from November 3 to 6 2013, at the International Dairy Show. Booth 571 Download press release Drinktec 2013: Serac unveils Combox H2F, its new blow molding-filling-capping solution for the dairy market The Serac Group unveils its new ultra-clean blow molding- filling- capping line at the Drinktec tradeshow. It is specifically designed for dairy bottles production below 12,000 bottles per hour. This innovation opens new perspectives for lower speed dairy products manufacturers, as they are able to blow mold bottles in house. The Serac group unveils its new ultra-clean blow molding- filling- capping line at the Drinktec tradeshow. It is specifically designed for dairy bottles production below 12,000 bottles per hour. This innovation opens new perspectives for lower speed dairy products manufacturers, as they are able to blow mold bottles in house.

Ultra-clean filling backed by Serac’s 40 years experience in aseptic packaging The fully integrated solution, branded Combox, incorporates the H2F (Highly Hygienic) filler that meets the hygiene requirements of cold chain dairy products. The focuses in the machine design phase were to integrate the company’s latest aseptic filling innovations and to control cost. As a result its competitive advantages can be acquired at a reasonable price. An affordable blow molding and filling solution Mid-sized dairy products manufacturers had until now a limited choice of integrated packaging lines : on one side cartons for low speed packaging, on the other side complete blow molding-filling-capping lines that were often oversized. With the Combox H2F, Serac gives them the appropriate equipment to blow mold in house. PET blow molding combined with rotary weight filling machines With over 40 years experience in filling, the Serac group provides the capability to integrate PET blow molding with any of its fillers-cappers. A unique and patented transfer system converts sequential motion of the linear blower into a continuous motion which adapts to any Serac rotary filler.

The Combox H2F should rapidly penetrate the dairy market, as it answers the needs of developing countries using PET, as well as the low volume and high value-added product segments. The Combox H2F will be on display at Drinktec in September 2013 on the Serac booth, number 334, hall A6. Download press release Aseptic milk packaging: new trends France has been a pioneer in the field of aseptic milk bottle filling in Europe. The French may even be the world’s greatest plastic bottled UHT milk consumers ! Serac’s objective in this field is to meet the manufacturers’ constantly evolving demand and to adapt its range of aseptic machines in order to address new trends. France has been a pioneer in the field of aseptic milk bottle filling in Europe. The French may even be the world’s greatest plastic bottled UHT milk consumers ! Serac’s objective in this field is to meet the manufacturers’ constantly evolving demand and to adapt its range of aseptic machines in order to address new trends. Milk shelf life in France is traditionally high, in response to the retailers’ requirements and the inconsistent quality of the collected milk, which forced manufacturers to use extensive heat treatment.

The quality has improved significantly for a number of years. Now 95% of milk in France is UHT. Yet there is a variety of milk processing methods throughout Europe. Belgium, Spain and Portugal follow the same pattern as France. By contrast, Northern Europe favors pasteurized milk. As for Germany and Italy, they offer both fresh milk and UHT milk. The European drinking milk market is therefore not homogeneous. Bottled UHT milk has just started to develop in Russia, where the first aseptic line has just been set up. The main advantage of milk aseptic filling is that it can be used to extend the milk shelf life with a lesser deterioration of organoleptic properties of the product compared with sterilized milk for example. The reason is that milk, which is highly nutritious , is one of the most sensitive products from a microbiologic and organoleptic point of view. Complex decontamination solutions Today, as far as Serac’s aseptic lines are concerned, there are several solutions to decontaminate plastic bottles for UHT milk.

First of all, an aseptic blowing machine can be used to produce a sterile co-extruded and blow-molded HDPE bottle that consists either of six layers (light and oxygen barrier) or three layers (light barrier only). No chemical treatment is thus required inside the bottle. The bottle is then trimmed just before being filled in a sterile atmosphere. Second, for open-neck bottles, including PET bottles, “wet processing” with a peracetic-acid based liquid solution (PAA) or “dry processing” with a hydrogen peroxide-based gas solution (H2O2) can be used. Unlike PAA processing, H2O2 processing has the advantage of not requiring sterile water rinsing after processing. It therefore reduces overall water consumption. Innovating to add value Although milk remains a staple product, its manufacturing requires complex processing : UHT sterilization of milk, aseptic filling, barrier materials, and therefore a high production cost. In order to attract new market players, technical innovation is therefore important. As a pioneer in the design of aseptic filling machines, Serac is continually investing in R&D in this field.

One of the major fields of research in packaging decontamination is the electron beam or “E-Beam”. With this process, it is possible to avoid using chemical products. Nowadays, there is growing interest in «chemical-free» processes. E-beam is therefore one of tomorrow’s solutions. Towards smaller and more flexible machines Demand is also evolving in terms of machines. High output volumes enable the large dairy companies to write off their production units. Newcomers on the other hand look for smaller machines with slower outputs, especially on the new markets. They also tend to favor bottles versus cartons because they stand out on the retailer shelf. Greater flexibility is another emerging trend In order to make investments profitable, food manufacturers also wish to fill different products on the same line, such as fruit juices (products with acid pH) or fermented milk (non-sterile chilled products). We are therefore starting to have requests for flexible multi-product lines in order to produce extended shelf life and cold chain products on a same line. Flexibility in packaging materials is also required, with lines that can fill both polyethylene and PET bottles. Lastly flexibility is required in terms of packaging sizes, with lines filling both quarter of a liter and one liter containers.

We have therefore developed neck transfer systems which are used to rapidly change the format without requiring machine sterilization. To sum it all up, production lines must be more flexible in terms of products, materials and formats, while retaining their primary objectives: product sterility and integrity, as well as performance of the filling line. Download press release Serac launches its PET bottle blow molding machines for dairy products and edible oil Named SBL for Serac Blow Linear, the machines can produce bottles up to 5 liters at speeds from 2,400 to 12,000 containers per hour. For several years now, the gap between packaging manufacturing and filling has been diminishing. Integrated systems incorporating blowing, filling and capping are growing in popularity. PET increasing market share in dairy product bottling, one of Serac key outlets, along with customers requiring complete systems, have prompted the company to give their strategy a new direction by launching their own PET bottle blow molding machines for dairy products and edible oil. Named SBL for Serac Blow Linear, the machines can produce bottles up to 5 liters at speeds from 2,400 to 12,000 containers per hour. The machine has been specifically designed to optimize energy consumption.

Heating of the preforms is performed at low temperature and evenly distributed using reflecting panels and independently adjustable lamps. The blow molding solutions can be configured to fully integrate one of Serac filling and capping units (Combox). A patented bottle transfer system enables to transform the bottle’s sequential motion (linear blower) into a continuous motion (rotary filler). The SBL series is manufactured in the Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia facilities, given their cutting edge manufacturing capabilities and the teams’ technical expertise. Lean Manufacturing principles are applied to reduce lead times while ensuring quality assembly at competitive pricing. Less than 12 months were required for the Serac Asia engineering team to design, assemble, test and present the first SBL machine to Serac sales team. To find out more about sales strategy on the blow molding market, listen to the interview of Philippe de Sarrazin , General Manager at Serac Asia. It was filmed in September 2012 during the SBL (Serac Blow Linear) presentation to the staff. Download press release Serac enters the Packaging Manufacturing Industry Serac enters the packaging manufacturing industry with a range of PET bottle blowing machines for dairy and edible oil products. For several years now the gap between packaging manufacturing and filling has been diminishing.

Integral systems incorporating blowing, filling and capping are growing in popularity. PET’s increasing market share in dairy product bottling, one of Serac’s key outlets, along with customers requiring complete systems, have prompted the company to give ... Serac enters the packaging manufacturing industry with a range of PET bottle blowing machines for dairy and edible oil products. For several years now the gap between packaging manufacturing and filling has been diminishing. Integral systems incorporating blowing, filling and capping are growing in popularity. PET’s increasing market share in dairy product bottling, one of Serac’s key outlets, along with customers requiring complete systems, have prompted the company to give their strategy a new direction and enter the packaging manufacturing industry. Over 40 years experience in filling and capping Since 1969 the Serac group’s core business has been centered on filling and capping machines. Over the period the company designs a series of ranges, among which : the Canopy for edible oil in PET containers, the Metis range for shampoo and shower gel weight filling and the H2F ultra-clean milk and drinking yogurt bottling.

Acquisitions enable the group to consolidate its expertise with complementary activities : In 1982 Serac acquires Bertaud and expands its offering to volumetric filling ; in 1996 it purchases Hispamec, that specializes in perfume and cosmetics packaging ; in 2004 it acquires Nova, that manufactures packaging machines for yogurts and deserts in preformed cups. A diversification strategy initiated in 2010 Today the company’s objective is to provide a range of PET bottle blowing machines that will reinforce the group’s position on its two key markets : dairy and edible oil. The machines are designed and assembled in the Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, plant. They are an integral part of Serac’s blowing-filling-capping offer. A unique bottle transfer system enables the blowing machines to operate seamlessly with Serac’s filling and capping machines. The growth of the Serac group in the packaging manufacturing industry does not limit itself to PET bottles, but also includes other applications such as PP and PS bottles using plastic sheets, based on the same principle as thermoformed yogurt cups (an additional expertise acquired with a stake in the Agami company in 2010).

Entering the packaging manufacturing industry is Serac’s first strategic move toward diversification. Its ultimate goal is to evolve from filling and capping machine manufacturer to complete systems provider. Find out more by visiting our website Download press release Philippe de Sarrazin has been appointed General Manager of Serac Asia Philippe de Sarrazin has been appointed General Manager of Serac Asia replacing Wilfrid Marie, Vice-President of Serac Group, who was acting in interim and who will now focus on Serac Group new business development as the Group activity is booming (+ 20 % turnover). Philippe de Sarrazin has been appointed General Manager of Serac Asia replacing Wilfrid Marie, Vice-President of Serac Group, who was acting in interim and who will now focus on Serac Group new business development as the Group activity is booming (+ 20 % turnover). Philippe de Sarrazin, former Vice President of Sidel South East Asia Pacific (120M € turnover, 160 people) and former CEO of Sidel Russia-CIS joined the Serac group in January 2012 as Sales Director in charge of Asia Pacific.

Download press release Acyr Borges has just been appointed as the new President of Serac Inc Acyr Borges has just been appointed as the new President of Serac Inc, the subsidiary of Serac Group for North America, headquartered in Carol Stream, Ill. Acyr Borges (53), former Vice-President of Hercules Sealing Products Inc and former Sales & Marketing Director of Henkel Adhesives Corp for Asia-Pacific has an extensive track record in business development and joins Serac with ambitious challenges aiming at boosting Serac business in North & Central Americas. Download press release Save 25% floor space with integrated unscrambler-filler-capper Serac is now offering complete lines that include packaging distribution, filling and capping functions linked through a starwheel positive transfer system which offers several advantages over accumulation conveyors. The first line equipped with this integrated unit, which was developed in cooperation with Lanfranchi and its Star Block technology, is being installed at the world’s leader in cosmetics. It achieves a speed of 18,000 bph for 60 ml bottles with a level of efficiency equaling ...

Serac is now offering complete lines that include packaging distribution, filling and capping functions linked through a starwheel positive transfer system which offers several advantages over accumulation conveyors. The first line equipped with this integrated unit, which was developed in cooperation with Lanfranchi and its Star Block technology, is being installed at the world’s leader in cosmetics. It achieves a speed of 18,000 bph for 60 ml bottles with a level of efficiency equaling those of standard lines with accumulation conveyors, while saving 25% floorspace. A monobloc system The transfer system is based on a starwheel with variable pitch, which automatically compensates for the difference in pitch between the dispensing and filling functions. Thanks to this system the two machines become one.

Question: Serac is what type of foodstuff?
Answer: Cheese