Athena-Sipa agreement expires

Photo by File photo Robert Schad

The machinery development and mould making agreement has ended between Athena Automation and Sipa.

Athena is Robert Schad’s Vaughan, Ontario-based company that makes PET preform injection moulding machines. Sipa is a blow moulding machinery manufacturer based in Vittorio Veneto, Italy, with a North American operation in Atlanta.

Athena announced that the agreement has expired in a 17 February news release.

The two machinery companies first agreed to work together in December 2012, to build a line of automated PET injection presses and blow moulders. Sipa also was making all preform molds for Athena machines. Under the agreement, both companies would integrate their respective machinery into a complete system.

In the 17 February announcement, Athena said it would support Sipa in shipping and servicing the remaining inventory of “Athena for Sipa” machines. But Athena’s next generation of PET preform moulding machines will be sold and serviced directly by Athena, alongside its injection presses for other markets.

In the news release, Schad said: “As far as molds are concerned, we’re not forming an alliance with a specific mould maker — we will let customers choose the mold maker they want to use with the post-mould cooling and quick mould-change technologies from Athena.”

Officials from Athena and Sipa were not available for comment.

Currently, Athena manufactures injection presses with clamping forces of 150,300 and 450 tonnes. Athena’s new 155,000-square-foot machinery assembly factory is in the early start-up phase. Its existing 40,000-square-foot building will become the headquarters office and house sales and customer service.