PTI, a US-headquartered PET packaging research and development firm, has entered into a strategic partnership with PET packaging machinery specialist Italy-based Sipa, as a result of which PTI will become part of the Sipa group.
The collaboration will enable both companies to increase their visibility and create new business opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic.
PTI already has an established presence in Europe through its division in Switzerland. The company’s extensive expertise in package development and material expertise complements and expand Sipa’s capabilities portfolio, said Thierry Fabozzi, PTI CEO, so that ‘joining forces with SIPA makes perfect sense for PTI.’
A further benefit, he said, was that partnering with Sipa will give PTI access to SIPA’s latest equipment - “And enable us to provide even better turnkey solutions for our brand-owner customers.”
PTI was founded in 1985 by Tom Brady, who previously served as the VP and director of technology for Owens-Illinois Inc, where he led development of PET bottle technology from 1971 to 1984. When he was approachd by Coca-Cola to lead a number of their projects, he offered instead to set up a separate company—Plastic Technologies, Inc. - to manage those projects. Today, PTI is a globally recognised PET packaging solutions provider with offices and labs in the US, Switzerland and India. The company works with brand owners around the world on the development of innovative, sustainable packaging solutions in line with the regulatory, environmental, economic and aesthetic standards required today.
For Sipa, next to the technical benefits, the geographical advantages of the partnership are self-evident. “PTI’s well-established footprint in the United States will allow Sipa to further reinforce its visibility and success for its equipment technology in North America,” said SIPA Chairman Dr. Gianfranco Zoppas.
Sipa’s widespread network elsewhere in the world will help introduce PTI as a leader in package development, enabling Sipa to provide a very comprehensive offering to the market, he added. The Group operates 17 sales branches, four manufacturing facilities, of which two in Italy, one in Romania and one in China; and 28 service centres. Moreover, the company is the second-largest mould maker in the world, with tooling facilities in Italy and China. Sipa offers both injection and blow-moulding mould making capabilities. Its injection mould refurbishing and conversion services are currently available in Italy, China, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa and the United States.