Call identifier:

CIP-EIP-Eco-lnnovation-2009 / 256062

Partners

No	Partner	Short Name	Country Code	Main role in the project
1	Greenbottle Limited	GB	UK	Coordinator, technology developers, project managers and IP commercialisation
2	RTS Flexible Systems Ltd	RTS	UK	Specialist in high speed robotic automation
3	PCE Automation Limited	PCE	UK	Special purpose assembly machine producers
4	Suffolk Meadow	Marybelle	UK	Validation and testing of the novel GREENBOTTLE in the Dairy setting (end user testing)
5	Stork Food & Diary Systems UK	Stork	UK	High speed bottle filling systems

1 - GB – GreenBottle Limited (UK)

Greenbottle Limited are the instigators of the GREENBOTTLE packaging concept in addition to the primary partner in the GREENBOTTLE consortium and the holders of the existing concept intellectual property.

GreenBottle are a company that has been in existence since 2006 and is dedicated to the development of more environmentally sound packaging technologies. The core concept of waste paper liner is a concept they wish to exploit into a huge variety of markets – such as milk, juices, smoothies, yoghurt drinks, squashes and concentrates, water, shampoos, hand creams, liquid detergents and engine oils. However the central leading focus on GreenBottle is for the initial development and commercialisation of the idea into the dairy/milk packaging sector.

GreenBottle as a company is built on the basis of a highly credible team of individuals that have the experience of  high volume packing system development and commercialisation.

2 - RTS - RTS Technology Systems plc

RTS (RTS Flexible Systems Ltd) is a high technology business supplying engineering services, products and integrated systems to automate scientific and industrial processes worldwide.

Specialising in robotic automation and vision guided applications our aim is to build a sustainable, growing business supplying automation to enhance client performance, processes and speed to market.

Our life science clients include: pharmaceutical, biotech, biobanking and academic institutes whilst our industrial expertise is focused on the consumer goods, nuclear and defence sectors.

RTS offers proven automated picking and packaging integrated solutions covering a comprehensive range of requirements including; picking for flow wrapper loading, mixed variety packs, tray, carton, thermo former loading and case packing.

3 - PCE – PCE Automation Limited (UK)

Formed in 1961 PCE Automation Ltd has established itself as a solution provider for a wide range of automatic product handling, assembling and testing systems with a world-wide reputation for innovation and quality.

PCE Automation Ltd has a tradition of building equipment in-house from first principles and has the total capability to design, manufacture and integrate equipment into new or existing production lines to give a turnkey solution. This is especially the case where specialist knowledge is required. It has extensive experience of high speed handling and in-line testing of single packaging units particularly within the dairy industry.

Examples of highly credible work done by PCE to-date are shown in the following photographs.

4 - Marybelle - Suffolk Meadow (UK)

Marybelle (Suffolk Meadow) is a small, independent dairy which specialises in providing dairy products from locally supplied milk. It operates from a purpose designed dairy facility where fresh milk is received, processed and filled before being supplied to local outlets and supermarkets.

Marybelle are highly committed to the ecological and ethical business practice within the agricultural and dairy sector. The milk products supplied are all sourced from local farms in Suffolk in the UK. - Currently there are  three farms which supply the Marybelle dairy: their own farm at Rendham Hall Farm which you can see to the left, the Walker family at Low Farm, Sotherton and the Burroughs family at Wheatacre Hall Farm, Beccles.

As a continuation of their ecological commitment Marybelle are delighted to contribute toward the GREENBOTTLE project and carry out trials and evaluation of the developing packaging system.

Marybelle will be used as a production testing facility (milk reception, processing filling and packing) at medium to high commercial production speeds. Much of the initial proving work needs to be carried out within the facility to establish and demonstrate the capability of the GreenBottle product. Trial volumes will be assembled, filled and distributed from the facility and will enable filling performance criteria to be established which will be a prerequisite ahead of the wider uptake of the product.

PCE Automation Ltd will be responsible for designing and building the automated assembly prototype. This will involve a variety of handling and manipulation techniques and will necessitate pilot scale functions to be established.

5 - Stork – Stork Food and Dairy Systems  UK (GB – UK subsidiary of Dutch company)

Stork Food and Dairy Systems specializes in extended the shelf life (ranging from several days to numerous months) and the packaging of dairy products and food. This involves products and packages that are run daily on the shelves in the supermarket. For instance, plain white milk, flavoured milk such as chocolate (cacao) drinks, coffee drinks, cream, yoghurt (yogurt), desserts and fruit juices, but also soups, sauces, pet food (dog and cat food), fish or meat products and vegetables. Stork can supply single machines and also integrated lines for processing and packaging of these products.

Examples of dairy filling and processing systems developed and supplied by Stork.

Stork Food and Dairy Systems will provide an invaluable input into defining the physical properties necessary for the GreenBottle to be filled at commercial speeds and conditions both in the UK and within other markets not only for milk but for other products.