Sidel’s packaging innovations at Propak Asia 2025

At the recent ProPak Asia 2025 in Bangkok packaging and food processing solutions provider Sidel presented its global high-speed technologies. More interestingly, it demonstrated live its slower SR Blow 2, a blow molding machine under its wholly owned Synergy brand.

Launched to meet the needs of small and mid-sized bottlers, Synergy is meant to deliver scalable, cost-effective packaging solutions specifically designed for low to medium-speed applications.

“Synergy is a 100% Sidel entity, and we specialize in manufacturing machines specifically for low and medium-speed applications,” said Navin Tiwari, sales director, Synergy. The live demonstration gave visitors a first hand look at the SR Blow 2’s performance and flexibility.

With the Synergy range in place, Harbinder Kathuria, vice-president of regional and key strategic accounts at Sidel, said the company is in a position to address the full spectrum of customers and their needs. Alongside Synergy’s showcase, Sidel highlighted its product portfolio, including advanced PET technologies, aseptic lines, complete solutions for carbonated soft drinks (CSD), water, hot fill, and high-speed beverage packaging lines.

Kathuria spoke about the beverage industry’s changing landscape. He pointed to a noticeable shift toward healthier and more functional beverages, which are shaping the future of packaging technologies. “People are increasingly aware of health benefits,” he noted, adding Sidel has been actively developing systems for sensitive beverage categories, including milk-based drinks, teas, and isotonic, pharmaceutical-influenced beverages.

He emphasized Sidel’s efforts in aseptic packaging, a technology crucial for preserving the quality and safety of low-acid products without the need for refrigeration. With consumers seeking fresher, healthier options with longer shelf-life, aseptic lines are becoming more relevant across markets.

Another trend Kathuria highlighted is the geographic expansion of beverage consumption. “As economies are growing, CSD is also expanding into different segments, away from the big metro cities,” he said. This reflects a broader transformation where smaller cities and towns are increasingly contributing to the beverage market’s growth.

Synergy’s debut at Propak Asia

The SR Blow 2 is a made-in-India 8-cavity rotary blower with a capacity of 18,000 bottles per hour. It can run for any sort of bottle – water and CSD, with a capacity of up to two liters. Accoring to Tiwari, “It is cost-efficient, reliable, and the per-bottle blowing cost is optimally very low.”

Synergy has strategically targeted developing markets in Southeast Asia and Africa. “We are providing to emerging markets in India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and African countries, that are looking for medium to low-speed machines,” he explains. “The market is not just growing, it is multiplying. This is the right time to capture the market in these countries.”

Known for its linear machine portfolio, Synergy has shifted to rotary machines. It is developing a 36,000-bottle-per-hour CSD machine expected to be ready by the end of this year or early next year. Kathuria says, Sidel has ambitious plans for market expansion. The company is developing its Synergy portfolio specifically for growing markets. “We are now going to come out with complete lines of 600 bpm (bottles per minute),” indicating a significant scaling of the current 300 bpm machines.

A key differentiator for Synergy is its competitive pricing. “Customers can get machines from India that are more affordable compared to manufacturers around the globe,” Tiwari says, highlighting the brand’s value proposition. The company’s strategy goes beyond mere sales. “We believe the market is shifting from linear to medium-speed machines,” he explains. “This is our opportunity to showcase our capabilities and capture emerging market potential.”

The recent exhibition was a crucial moment for the brand. “Many existing customers were excited to see we’re not just about linear machines anymore,” Tiwari says. “They were impressed to learn we’ve been running rotary machines fantastically for four years.”

According to Tiwari, Sidel is focusing on emerging markets, investing in technological advancement, and maintaining a customer-centric approach to play a significant role in the future of beverage packaging machinery. He confidently states, “We are moving fast, and the market is waiting for us.”