Sidel launches the EvoBLOW Laser

Sidel launches its era-shaping technology, EvoBLOW Laser, at drinktec 2025, Hall A6, Booth 361, September 15-19 at Munich Trade Fair Centre.

EvoBLOW Laser sets a new benchmark for performance in the food and beverage packaging industry, redefining lightweighting for PET and recycled PET (rPET), and raising the bar in efficiency, quality, ease and sustainability.

Pietro Cassani, Sidel president and chief executive officer, shares, “Sidel has led the way in blowing technology for over 45 years. At drinktec, we now unveil the world’s first industrialised laser-powered solution, which is a game-changer. Our pioneering commercial PET blower in 1980 revolutionised packaging. Now EvoBLOW Laser will reshape the industry again, setting a new standard for line efficiency and opening new lightweighting possibilities.” 

This innovation demonstrates what can be achieved by leveraging extensive expertise to meet market demands for a new level of performance and more sustainable packaging.

A new era for packaging

For decades, halogen technology has served the global market for PET packaging. It has seen significant advances and widespread success, but without a viable alternative – until now. With today’s new solution, the industry not only recognises fundamental limitations of halogen-based heating but overcomes them entering a new era. 

The EvoBLOW Laser arrives at a pivotal moment as producers are under mounting pressure to reduce costs, enhance sustainability, and embrace agile operations.  It offers a way to drive these much-needed changes. 

Lighter but stronger packaging – a paradox solved

One advantage of laser-based technology is its inherent precision. This accuracy enables both lighter and stronger containers – a paradox solved. While in traditional halogen solutions, preforms are heated in eight broad zones, the EvoBLOW Laser utilises up to 36 heating lines. This provides a new level of control over the material’s thickness all along the container, to achieve record-breaking results. 

This mastery of PET distribution enables lightweighting even for premium bottles, thanks to the creation of invisible ‘power rings’, or small rings of thicker material invisible to the consumer. These rings make the bottle feel and act stronger, while using less material overall. They replace conventional ‘geometrical ribs’, offering greater design freedom.

Lightweighting also becomes possible in previously inaccessible areas such as just beneath the bottle's neck.

First bottle, perfect bottle… and always

Halogen solutions are sensitive to environmental conditions and necessitate frequent and complex adjustments to achieve desired results. These alterations demand time, effort, and expertise, thereby limiting production time.

Laser technology is unaffected by its surroundings, ensuring total and consistent quality with unprecedented ease. It requires only one process setting per heating line (intensity). This stability guarantees that every preform, from the very first to the last, receives the precise thermal profile needed, consistently delivering the desired result regardless of ambient temperature changes.

A new level of line efficiency

A new level of efficiency is achieved thanks to the EvoBLOW Laser’s robustness and cold start capability. While halogen solutions require time to warm up or cool down, the laser-powered oven is always ready, eliminating downtime at every stop and start, with no 'stand-by' mode required to keep the oven warm.

Line efficiency is also improved thanks to live speed modulation, where the blower can automatically and temporarily adjust its speed in real-time to meet changing conditions or circumstances on the line.

The EvoBLOW Laser also makes it easy to blow a wider range of formats and shapes from the same preform, simplifying logistics.

Stress-free operations, safety and ease

Knowing that the EvoBLOW Laser can restart instantly with consistent quality reduces the stress of unplanned stops. The cold oven technology also allows fast access to the oven without waiting for cooling, with zero risk of burns.

When adjustments or changes are needed, an intuitive 'touch and shape' interface supports simple and quick settings. Maintenance is also easier due to the absence of ventilation fans and filters, and the longevity of laser diodes.

Sustainability gains and rPET

A step forward for sustainability, this innovation supports an increased use of rPET since it is less sensitive to material variations.  Furthermore, when adjustments are needed to adapt to varied rPET properties, they are immediate. The EvoBLOW Laser enables faster heating and a higher achievable preform temperature, which supports optimal stretching.

The technology also reduces preform waste compared to traditional solutions while benefitting from a smaller oven.^[1]

Refresco adopts the EvoBLOW Laser

Thanks to Sidel’s strong partnership with Refresco, the world’s largest independent beverage solution provider, the EvoBLOW Laser has undergone rigorous field testing, achieving remarkable success.  

Coert Michielsen, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Refresco, states, “After 45 years of halogen technology, we are now entering a new era. I firmly believe that laser oven technology will become the new standard.”

 [1] A 50% reduction in preform waste is achieved. This and all comparisons are made and measured on the EvoBLOW Laser solution vs Sidel’s comparable halogen-based solution. More information is available by contacting Sidel – see contacts below.