To respond promptly to market demands while respecting the environment, Latteria Soresina – an important Italian cooperative in the dairy sector – continuously invests in state-of-the-art production systems, such as the SMI EBS 6 KL ERGON stretch-blow moulder.

Keeping up with the times

125 years without stopping for even a single day. The history of Latteria Soresina shows how the company has been able to interpret market signals and respond to changing needs through growing efficiency and innovation.

Today, milk sourced from cows raised within a certified supply chain and processed according to tradition using innovative techniques is packaged in practical PET and rPET bottles blown by the EBS 6 KL ERGON stretch-blow moulder. The system is equipped with ReduxAir moulds, an efficient solution that performs stretch-blow moulding operations at lower pressures than those typically used.

Looking to the future sustainably

The goal of Latteria Soresina is to generate a positive impact for society and the dairy-food sector. The company’s focus on quality and its local territory is reflected in concrete sustainability choices, including environmental protection, animal welfare and ongoing support for members, employees and collaborators.

The sustainable supply chain is supported through periodic investments to renew barns, haylofts and dairy processing plants in order to reduce environmental impact and energy consumption.

All breeding members, with more than 200 barns located near the Latteria Soresina plants, have signed a supply chain agreement that includes careful monitoring of the entire production cycle, supported by preventive actions and periodic controls.

SMI solutions for Latteria Soresina

In response to the growing popularity of fresh milk, and to produce PET and rPET bottles containing 50% recycled plastic in 0.5-litre and 2-litre sizes, Latteria Soresina has invested in a plant designed to expand production while reducing environmental impact. The SMI EBS 6 KL ERGON stretch-blow moulder, installed at the Soresina facility, supports these needs and ensures flexible and sustainable production.

The SMI stretch-blow moulder also enables increased use of rPET bottles. In addition, the use of increasingly lightweight preforms helps optimise distribution and reduce the company’s carbon footprint. To further reduce the environmental impact of packaging, the 0.5-litre and 1-litre containers used for fresh milk have been redesigned, achieving 15% raw material savings.

The SMI stretch-blow moulder has also been tested using white PET preforms with titanium dioxide (TiO₂), which acts as a light barrier – an important element in the production of ESL (Extended Shelf Life) milk.

ReduxAir moulds

The moulds installed on the EBS 6 KL ERGON stretch-blow moulder are equipped with the ReduxAir bottom, which, thanks to specific technical and design features, enables faster release of air between the outer walls of the bottle and the mould surface.

This allows the 0.5-litre container to be produced at an air pressure of 20 bar and the 1-litre container at 25 bar, significantly lower than the approximately 35 bar normally used. This delivers clear advantages in terms of energy savings and environmental protection, due to reduced operation of the high-pressure air compressor.

Low-consumption preform heating

The innovative and compact preform heating tunnel used in SMI stretch-blow moulders is equipped with an aluminium diffuser that ensures optimal temperature control and prevents the risk of overheating.

Energy costs for bottle production are also reduced thanks to the use of highly energy-efficient infrared lamps.

AirMaster recovery system

The EBS 6 KL ERGON stretch-blow moulder is equipped with a two-stage air recovery system called AirMaster, which complements the standard air recovery system by capturing and recycling part of the high-pressure blowing air. This helps deliver significant savings in compressed-air consumption and energy costs.

Focus on Latteria Soresina

Latteria Soresina was established on 5 February 1900 in the town of Soresina, in the province of Cremona, through collaboration between farmers and milk producers. This cooperative structure continues to represent the most suitable model for turning the close relationship between members into operational reality.

The journey of the milk – 100% Italian – produced by 46,000 cows raised on farms in the Po Valley, begins every morning at 5am. It is collected from more than 200 associated farmers and transported to the Latteria Soresina plants for daily processing, ensuring fresh production and high-quality products.