Thanakorn Vegetable Oil Products (TVOP) has partnered with Sidel to equip its new plant with complete edible oil production lines based on the latest available technologies. A key element of the investment is the implementation of EvoBLOW Laser technology in the production of plastic bottles, which makes TVOP the first edible oil producer in the world to use this solution. The laser system will be integrated with other Sidel equipment and tools, including CoboREEL, EvoFilm Stretch and the Evo-ON digital suite, creating a coherent ecosystem for the preparation, blowing, filling, labelling and packing of edible oils.
This new stage of cooperation is part of TVOP's strategy of systematically modernising its production facilities, preparing for future market requirements and investing in employee competences and the reduction of environmental impact. According to the management, the objective is to increase operational efficiency, improve material balance and reduce the carbon footprint by using advanced processing and digital technologies.
Managing director Adul Premprasert indicates that the implementation of the EvoBLOW Laser system is directly linked to the company's mission of promoting sustainable production and consumption of edible oils. The company intends to achieve this by offering high quality products while reducing raw material and energy use. The new investment is expected to support both the current packaging portfolio and prepare the plant for potential material changes, such as the transition to rPET in the medium term.
EvoBLOW Laser technology in edible oil applications
TVOP is strengthening its position as an early adopter of innovation by becoming the first edible oil producer worldwide to use a laser-based solution in the bottle blowing process. At the same time, the company is one of the leaders in the introduction of EvoBLOW Laser to the Asian market, which entails applying this solution in a highly competitive environment and at a large production scale.
Adul Premprasert emphasises the importance of this approach: "Being a pioneer in using EvoBLOW Laser technology for edible oil production means that you want to be a leader and are not afraid of change. Innovation is crucial to prepare for future challenges, because investing in new technologies means thinking ahead and staying competitive in the long term." The use of laser-assisted blowing is intended to improve both packaging parameters and material consumption.
According to the project assumptions, the new TVOP plant will be equipped with an integrated set of Sidel solutions: EvoBLOW Laser, EvoFilm Stretch, CoboREEL and the Evo-ON digital suite. The digital monitoring system is to be linked to the company's internal corporate and logistics systems, enabling better use of production data for real-time line optimisation and planning.
Lighter bottles and market requirements
Thanks to the precision of the laser technology, TVOP will introduce a new 1-litre edible oil bottle developed in cooperation with Sidel's packaging team. The new variant is 2 grams lighter compared to the solutions previously used in the company's portfolio. The optimised weight is intended to reduce plastic consumption while maintaining the required mechanical strength, transport stability and on-shelf presentation.
The reduction in bottle weight is intended to decrease raw material use and potentially lower the carbon footprint associated with the packaging, without compromising the performance parameters required in the edible oil segment. TVOP assumes that the possibility of cold start-up of the laser system and the solution's resistance to ambient conditions will contribute to increased process stability and reduced downtime.
Adul Premprasert summarises the expected effects: "This laser technology will help us improve efficiency, energy performance, production stability and material savings, and all these factors are crucial for edible oil producers. This will allow us to respond faster to market demand while maintaining product quality and operational efficiency." In the medium term, the laser solution is expected to support the ongoing lightweighting programme and prepare the plant for a potential future implementation of rPET.
Automation of label handling and end-of-line packaging
An integral part of the new line configuration are systems that support the automation of consumable handling and secondary packaging. The CoboREEL solution for automatic loading of label reels uses cobots to handle reels with three times the capacity of other systems available on the market. This is intended to reduce the frequency of changeovers and operator interventions. An additional benefit is the declared low energy consumption of below 0.5 kWh.
The EvoFilm Stretch system was selected with the aim of reducing the carbon footprint associated with multi-pack bottle packaging. According to the supplier's data, this solution achieves around 90 percent lower energy consumption compared to conventional systems based on shrink film. The use of stretch film instead of traditional shrink solutions has the potential to reduce process energy demand and influence the environmental balance of the entire line.
Another infrastructure element is the cloud-based Evo-ON suite equipped with analytical tools. The software is intended to continuously process data from the equipment to generate operational recommendations for improving performance, reducing downtime and better planning of maintenance work. The aim is to enable more proactive line management based on actual machine performance indicators.
Long-term cooperation between TVOP and Sidel
The relationship between TVOP and Sidel is long-standing and dates back to 1978, when the company started using PVC containers supplied with the involvement of Sidel's technology. Over time, the cooperation has evolved into a strategic partnership covering the gradual modernisation of filling and packaging lines in response to changing requirements of the edible oil market.
Adul Premprasert describes the current form of cooperation as follows: "Sidel is more than just a supplier for us. We work together as long-term partners, side by side, for the benefit of our company, our society and ultimately our planet. Our long-standing cooperation gives us confidence that we can move forward together." From TVOP's perspective, support is important not only in supplying standalone equipment, but also in designing and integrating complete lines.
Currently, TVOP uses Sidel's offering in the design, supply and integration of full production lines covering solutions for blowing, filling, automation and end-of-line packaging. The objective is to build a unified technological ecosystem with a single supplier responsible for the consistency of the entire production flow. This approach is expected to facilitate achieving targeted performance indicators while reducing operating costs and the consumption of packaging materials.
As a partner for complete edible oil lines, Sidel is to support the new TVOP plant in further process optimisation and in pursuing objectives related to material and energy efficiency. The implementation of EvoBLOW Laser technology and related automation solutions is another stage of this cooperation, aimed at combining the quality requirements of the edible oil market with the drive towards more sustainable plastic packaging.
