Blow molding, net weight filling and capping combined into a single high-performance system
The food and beverage industry is experiencing a profound transformation. Manufacturers are facing shorter production runs, increasing SKU proliferation, stricter hygiene requirements and growing sustainability targets.To address these challenges, Packmoda introduces the Serac Combox to the Italian market: an integrated packaging solution combining PET blow molding, net weight filling and capping within a single compact platform.
An All-in-One packaging solution
The Combox integrates:
- PET blow molding technology;
- High-precision net weight filling;
- Automatic capping.
By eliminating bottle transfers between separate machines, the system delivers:
- Up to 40% footprint reduction,
- Significantly lower contamination risks;
- 30–50% CAPEX savings;
- Improved overall equipment efficiency.
Available from 8,000 to 18,000 bottles per hour and supporting formats from 250 ml to 5 liters, Combox is designed for modern high-performance packaging operations.
High-accuracy net weight filling
Serac’s filling technology is particularly suitable for sensitive products such as milk, cream, yogurt drinks and edible oils.
Key benefits include:
- Filling accuracy up to 0.1–0.2%;
- Elimination of product giveaway;
- Independence from density variations;
- Consistent package quality.
Vacuum cone valves and anti-drip technology ensure clean filling operations while minimizing oxidation and product loss.
Advanced hygiene design
The Combox platform is engineered according to EHEDG hygienic design principles and features:
• fully automatic CIP and SIP systems
• pulsed-light cap decontamination
• positive-neck bottle handling
• optimized hygienic product pathways
These features make the system ideal for microbiologically sensitive applications.
Independent magnetic shuttle technology: a new level of flexibility
One of the most innovative features of the latest Serac generation is the use of independently controlled magnetic shuttle transfer systems.
As production batches become smaller and packaging formats more diverse, flexibility has become a critical competitive factor.
Unlike traditional mechanical architectures, each preform can follow its own customized path and cycle time. This enables:
- Dynamic process optimization;
- Customized preform handling;
- Faster format changeovers;
- Reduced downtime;
- Greater manufacturing agility.
The machine is no longer constrained by fixed mechanical movements, allowing unprecedented flexibility for modern packaging operations.
Format changeovers in less than 30 minutes
Rapid format changeovers are becoming essential for manufacturers managing multiple SKUs. Thanks to its intelligent shuttle architecture and integrated design, Combox enables format changes in less than 30 minutes. Benefits include:
- Increased production availability;
- Reduced operating costs;
- Faster response to market demand;
- Efficient multi-format production.
Ideal for dairy packaging
Combox is perfectly suited for:
- Fresh milk;
- ESL milk;
- UHT cream;
- Drinking yogurt;
- Fermented dairy products;
- Dairy desserts
Serac ESL filling solutions can achieve shelf life up to 45 days while maintaining product integrity and microbiological stability. Today, approximately 80% of the world’s UHT cream is packaged using SERAC technologies.
Sustainable packaging for extra virgin olive oil
The olive oil industry is increasingly exploring PET packaging solutions. Combox supports:
- Lightweight packaging;
- Lower logistics costs;
- Recycled PET (rPET) integration;
- Reduced environmental impact;
- Optimized material consumption.
Dedicated filling technology and advanced process control ensure premium product quality throughout the packaging process.
Sustainability and Operational Efficiency
By combining on-site bottle production, lower material consumption, reduced energy usage and simplified plant architecture, COMBOX generates measurable economic and environmental benefits. Manufacturers can significantly improve:
- Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE);
- Packaging sustainability;
- Production flexibility;
- Total cost of ownership.
Strategic opportunities for home care and personal care packaging
While the Combox technology is widely recognized as a benchmark solution for dairy and edible oil packaging, it also offers significant advantages for the home care, household chemicals and personal care industries.
Markets such as liquid detergents, fabric softeners, household cleaners, shampoos, shower gels and cosmetic products are increasingly characterized by SKU proliferation, packaging differentiation and frequent format changeovers driven by retail requirements.
In this environment, the combination of integrated blow molding, filling and capping together with independently controlled magnetic shuttle technology provides:
- Fast and simplified format changeovers;
- Reduced production downtime;
- Exceptional flexibility for different bottle geometries;
- Faster response to market demands;
- Improved manufacturing efficiency.
For many home care and personal care manufacturers, the ability to switch rapidly between packaging formats has become a critical competitive advantage. The SERAC Combox enables producers to maintain high productivity levels even when managing highly diversified product portfolios and increasingly shorter production runs.
Blow molding, net weight filling and capping: innovative independently controlled magnetic shuttle technology
The Serac Combox represents one of the most advanced integrated packaging solutions available today. Combining blow molding, net weight filling and capping with innovative independently controlled magnetic shuttle technology, Combox enables manufacturers to meet the demands of a rapidly changing market.
For dairy producers and extra virgin olive oil manufacturers, it is far more than a machine: it is a strategic platform for sustainable growth, operational excellence and long-term competitiveness.
- Serac at Cibustec (Hall 03, booth E043).
- Serac at Pack Expo International (S-2530).
