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At first, the company acquired seven Toshiba injection molding machines which were located in the Las Cruces factory. This acquisition marked the beginning of the plastic crate manufacturing aiming to supply Postobon with crates for beverage bottles transportation replacing the existing wood boxes. This change allowed Postobon to reduce the weight and increase the number of turns working with plastic crates.
Initially, the plastic boxes injection was carried out in Tapas La Libertad, a company whose mission is to make aluminum and steel caps for soft drinks, liquors and pharmaceutical products. Additionally, a complete line of plastic disposable cups and mills for the post-industry materials recovery were acquired by 1987.
In 1988, Iberplast acquired its first BEKUM blowing-machine in order to manufacture the polycarbonate 20 liter bottles. The plastic division of Tapas la Libertad grew fast and it was necessary to lead the company through new niches. In 1989, Iberplast is created with the early launch of PET bottles for the CSD industry.
Later, in 1990, another facility is built in Puente Aranda. It is right there where a modern production plant is started up for the PET returnable bottles production (PRB) and the purchasing of two blow molding machines from MAG Plastic with capacity up to 1,800 bph, marks a new era in the company.
Due to the accelerated growth of the PRB bottles demand and considering the preforms were imported from different countries, the company made the decision of purchasing its three first Husky PET Prefom systems. In addition, a new Sidel Blow Molding Machine is added to the plant in 1992.
As part of its environmental commitment and considering the post-consumer industry was growing rapidly, Iberplast bought one of the first recycling systems from EREMA to process different material like polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyethylene.
The company continues growing, so the disposable cups line is expanded by buying two ILLIG machines and a VAN DAM printer in 1993.
The CSD market was growing very fast and new products were coming up, therefore the company acquired four KRAUSS MAFFEI machines with SHOELLER moulds from Germany in 1995 including the ISIMAT automated printing line. With these machines, Iberplast begun to supply crates to the different beverages companies of the group; POSTOBON, CERVECERIA LEONA AND JUGOS HIT.
In 1995 there was a rapid increase of the water industry and new presentations were launched to the market. Iberplast was part of the development of the 500 cc water bottle and bought an EBM machine from Liberty starting the 5 liter bottle line. Additional capacity was added to the process for caps acquiring new injection molding machines.
By 1998, three KRUPP CORPOPLAST blow molding, furthermore named BLOMAX, where purchased to add up to 12,000 bph capacity. A new Husky system increased the preform manufacturing capacity and new products were launched to cover the new one-way trend in the industry.
The board of directors made the decision of selling the disposable cups line in 1999 focusing on the PET market. In the same year, a new BLOMAX machine was installed in GASEOSAS LUX for bottles up to 2.5 liters.
In 2000, The BEKUM blow molding machine is transferred to Bogota for 5 liter bottles manufacturing and two new injection molding machines are added. New investments in the blow molding lines completed the expansion process in different niches.
By 2005, the company invested in a new HUSKY HyPET injection molding machine adding 12.000 preforms/hour to its production capacity and added a new Blomax blow molding machine as well, with 13.000 bottles/hour production capacity.
Nowadays, Iberplast counts with 3 different locations with a wide range of products from 0.5 lt. to 3 liter bottles. The three plants have their laboratories supplied with modern technology for quality assurance.
In 2005, Iberplast renewed the IT platform implementing SAP in order to facilitate the internal and external processes.
Looking for expanding its product portfolio, Iberplast acquired three SACMI compression lines with total capacity of 60 million per month. A new investment was executed for the 2.5 liter PRB bottle which included a KAMMAN printing machine and four injection molds for crates provided by Mundimold. A new HyPET system was purchased together with a new BLOMAX machine.
The merger between Iberplast S.A and Tapas la Libertad in 2007 has been one of the most important events in the Iberplast S.A trajectory. This merger and the future projects coming up require a new strategy to join synergies facilitating the control of the entire operations. Therefore, Iberplast has developed the MegaPlant Project looking for the integration of all its manufacturing operations in one single area of 115.000 mt2 in Madrid, Cundinamarca. The plant will be starting operations in 2010.
Iberplast has always supported its processes with the highest level of technology and the best quality. This policy is guaranteed with the ISO 9001/2000 certification in its Quality Management System obtained in November 2006 and The Quality Certification with the 2848 regulation for crown caps production given by SGS in 2007.
New laboratory equipment has been purchased to support the Quality Assurance in all its plants in the country.
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