Bottler Radenska ADRIATIC counts on LEIBINGER coding & marking systems in its production of cans for a variety of projects.

Radenska ADRIATIC, founded in 1869, is a company rich in heritage with a sharp focus on innovation and expansion. Today, it is the largest mineral water producer in Slovenia and a key member of the internationally active Kofola Group. In addition to mineral waters and soft drinks under its own brand, Radenska also bottles Pepsi products as well as other carbonated soft drinks (CSDs). These products are sold in Slovenia, throughout the Western Balkans along the Adriatic coast, in Europe, the United States and even as far as Australia. With a workforce of close to 260 and impressive production volumes, Radenska has firmly established itself as a reliable partner to the beverage industry.

Production challenges: Efficiency and availability

Six large bottling lines are in operation in Radenska’s production halls. They are capable of bottling as many as a million bottles a day. At full capacity, up to 15,000 bottles an hour roll off the production line. This is indeed a huge output – and one that can only be achieved when all the technology involved operates flawlessly. This was precisely the challenge that Radenska had been facing for a long time. The CIJ printers it had been using to apply the mandatory product coding & marking data were prone to weaknesses, especially following production interruptions. The nozzles of the previous printing systems regularly clogged after longer breaks, which in turn led to time-consuming cleaning cycles. This not only affected print quality, it also slowed down the entire production and had a negative impact on overall productivity due to the inevitable delays.

The decision in favour of LEIBINGER printing systems

Radenska made the decision to replace its existing printing systems. The company called in Vojko Arzenšek, General Manager of ADHEZIV, a LEIBINGER partner and specialist in coding & marking systems. He recommended that Radenska upgrade to premium printers from LEIBINGER. The company had ambitious requirements. The printing systems had to print both cans and bottles to an exceptionally high standard of reliability, while ensuring maximum printer availability. The beverage production environment itself is also challenging, with high levels of humidity and moisture that affect the materials to be printed. The new printers would also be required to keep pace with the high production speeds, and the inks would have to feature special properties. In view of these stringent requirements, Arzenšek recommended LEIBINGER as the ideal solution provider.

The tendering process: Radenska prioritises comprehensive service and low TCO costs

To identify the best possible solution, Radenska carried out a detailed tendering process involving four different providers. Comparing the coding & marking systems, however, proved to be a complex task, as several technical parameters and product features had to be considered. Originally, Radenska focused purely on the printing systems’ specific functionalities and their purchase prices. However, after a detailed analysis of the offers, the company came to realise that high system availability and productivity were what mattered most. Radenska therefore changed its strategy and focused on TCO (total cost of ownership). The briefing now required a comprehensive, all-inclusive package that included not only the printers themselves, but also the necessary consumables such as ink and solvents, as well as a functional guarantee for a period of five years.

When the new bidding parameters were announced, one supplier withdrew. Vojko Arzenšek, on the other hand, requested more detailed information from Radenska about planned production volumes and printing applications so that he could prepare a tailor-made offer for the customer. Together with LEIBINGER, he developed a customised package that included several LEIBINGER JET2 NEO CIJ printers, as well as all the required consumables and services. After a thorough review of the offers, Radenska opted for LEIBINGER. This was a decisive step towards significantly increasing the efficiency and reliability of Radenska’s production.