Sibeg Coca-Cola installs its first aseptic PET line

Established in 1960 and headquartered in Catania, Sibeg is the official bottler of the Coca-Cola Company in Sicily.

The bottler recently the partnered with Sidel to install a complete aseptic line, featuring the Aseptic Combi Predis and EvoFilm Stretch, to improve innovation and help meet its sustainability goals.

With eight production lines, ranging from soft drinks to energy beverages, Sibeg handles the production, bottling, distribution and development of Coca-Cola, Monster Energy products and Acqua di Tepelene to over 24,500 points of sale across the island.

Committed to environmental responsibility, the bottler is targeting zero emissions in Scope 1 and Scope 2 by 2030, and full carbon neutrality by 2032, aligning all investments with this long-term sustainability vision.

In support of these goals, Sibeg recently partnered with Sidel to install a new 18,000 bph complete-aseptic PET line at its site in Catania, enabling the company to bring the production of sensitive products in-house, which were previously handled externally through co-packing.

The new line, featuring Sidel’s Aseptic Combi Predis, EvoFilm Stretch, PalKombi machines and digital solutions, has delivered savings in terms of water, energy, chemicals and plastic. Furthermore, the 100% rPET production allows Sibeg to reduce the environmental impact, contributing to a circular economy and minimising waste.

Luca Busi, CEO at Sibeg, commented: “This move reflects our strategic effort to both expand our product portfolio and enhance flexibility in meeting customer demands, while also cutting down on pollution from truck transport from Northern Italy, further reinforcing our commitment to sustainability.”

Busi said the complete aseptic PET line will allow the bottler to diversify into energy drinks and tea production.

Gianluca Tornatore, Operations Director at Sibeg, added that “the collaboration with Tetra Pak for the processing part enabled us to cover the entire production process — from beverage preparation to the packaging line — with a single contact point, bringing a strong increase in efficiency during execution”. 

The Sidel system features dry preform decontamination using a hydrogen peroxide mist, which reduces water and chemical usage. This is designed to ensure product safety without the use of preservatives and successfully passed on the first attempt with the aseptic validation protocol, complying with Coca-Cola company standards.

Designed for ease of use, the solution allows operators to manage the sterilisation process economically, minimising downtime and reducing the need for extensive training. The system also offers good flexibility, allowing Sibeg to switch between 10 different formats from energy drinks to teas, while maintaining good food safety and productivity.

Sidel also installed its EvoFilm Stretch packer. Unlike traditional shrink-wrapping, it works at ambient temperature, eliminating the need for energy-heavy shrink tunnels. Sidel said this cuts plastic use by up to 60% and reduces energy consumption by as much as 90%.

Sibeg also opted for Sidel’s Evo-ON Flex app — intelligent software that streamlines the bottle changeover process by guiding operators step by step through each required action. It provides a comprehensive, real-time overview of all scheduled changeovers for the entire work shift.