Since gases can also migrate inward through single layer PET, beverages, like beer and fruit drinks, are sensitive to oxygen seeping from the atmosphere into the drink. This is good news from an environmental point of view. Multilayer technology inserts a layer of much less permeable material that slows down the migration of gas and can extend the shelf life of carbonated beverages by a factor of two.Īnother advantage of using a multilayer bottle is that it can be made lighter, since it does not rely on the thickness of the bottle wall to hold the internal pressure. This means that a carbonated (‘fizzy’) drink will eventually go flat over a period of time. One of the characteristics of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles is that they permit the slow passage of gases through the bottle wall. In 2009 BevPak invested in a state-of-the-art multilayer preform system from US-based Kortec, Inc. “We put a big emphasis on after-sales support,” he says. These customers welcomed the advent of a manufacturer who could give them these options, plus a high level of local technical support. They wanted lighter weight products, longer shelf life and better performance from the packaging they were buying, as well as the ability to add value through design and colour. Customers were looking for the same advantages as their counterparts in Europe or America. When BevPak arrived in Nigeria it entered a market that was becoming increasingly sophisticated. The ingenuity of Nigerians to get a job done in the face of problems does them credit, he feels, and is one of their many strengths. The state of the roads throughout most of the country is not good nevertheless Carter has been impressed by the ability of the transport contractors who truck the preforms across this large country to deliver. Electric power is unreliable to the extent that a factory like BevPak’s has no option but to generate its own, and there is no municipal water supply. Infrastructure is also a challenge, as it is throughout Africa. Since the factory is a 24/7 operation this degree of proximity is a significant help. Ibadan is only 120 km from Lagos, and offers certain advantages: “Many of our staff can walk to work: in Lagos they would probably face a two hour commute – each way!” says Carter. The Ibadan factory of BevPak now employs 64 people. Carter is confident that this will become a reality once the PET market in Nigeria reaches sufficient volume to justify the investment. Recycled Pet for use in PET bottles is produced in Nigeria at this stage – bottle-to-bottle recycling is expensive and requires much greater volumes to make it viable. It is put to use in products as different as tyre cords and clothing. PET fibre is one of the most widely produced synthetic fibres. There is a good recycling infrastructure in Nigeria, where people perceive value in waste, so there is a good rate of conversion of PET into fibre for stuffing mattresses and pillows, and other uses. From the customer’s point of view, PET bottles carry no deposit, and they are easy to recycle. These days there is a movement into PET for its clear advantages, principally driven by convenience: it is lightweight, it is resealable after opening, and it is safe to the user – no cuts or damage can be done with a PET bottle. Nigeria has always been a predominantly glass bottle market,” he explains. “Traditionally there are three different options for packaging beverages: glass bottles, metal cans and PET bottles. The venture was based on an understanding of the industry’s fundamentals. Nigeria’s very size and complexity have proved a disincentive for many investors who prefer a tidier market, but Carter and his associates saw the opportunity and were prepared to take the risks. While it is well developed socially, educationally and politically by the standards of sub-Saharan Africa it also has a massive potential for growth in most consumer sectors, not least food and drink. Nigeria is a country with a huge population of nearly 170 million people – and it is a growing economy, underpinned by its substantial oil reserves. The rationale for setting up BevPak was simple. The Managing Director of this operation is Syd Carter, who has 18 years’ experience in the PET conversion industry in Africa. In 2008, a group of entrepreneurs bought a small operation in the city and equipped it with modern machinery to produce the preforms from which PET bottles are blown. In the short space of five years since BevPak was established in Ibadan, Nigeria’s third largest city, the company has put down strong roots in Nigeria.
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