BBM Packaging continues to stand out in the sale of used machinery for packaging and bottling, signing an important project with Oleificio Zucchi, one of the historic names in high-quality Italian olive oil. The work included the supply, installation, and commissioning of a OCME ALTAIR X30 case packer, fully refurbished, designed to best support the production needs of the Cremona facility.
Oleificio Zucchi: a historic and innovative brand
Founded in 1810 in Cremona by the Zucchi family, Oleificio Zucchi represents one of the longest-standing and most recognized names in the Italian high-quality oil sector. Now in its sixth generation, the company has made sustainability and technological innovation the pillars of its development. The Cremona production site covers 110,000 square meters, employing around 150 people. The company’s 12 production and packaging lines have an impressive capacity: approximately 500 tons of refined oil per day and 1,500,000 liters packaged daily.
A consolidated relationship and targeted interventions
The collaboration between BBM and Oleificio Zucchi has strengthened over the years through targeted projects, customized solutions, and a relationship of trust that combines technical expertise and a shared vision. Oleificio Zucchi, a leader in olive and seed oil, relied on BBM to modernize and optimize its plants, implementing interventions that improved efficiency, safety, and sustainability.
Among the main projects carried out, BBM supplied and installed a fully refurbished BERCHI Genius D/S depalletizer, capable of handling around 20 glass bottle formats at a speed of 15,000 bottles/hour. The installation, completed in just two weeks along with conveyors and the orienter for rectangular bottles, ensured a turnkey solution with minimal downtime.
In terms of process improvement, BBM Service introduced innovative systems to optimize format changes: manually adjustable guides and variable-geometry curved guides, eliminating complex and hazardous procedures related to manual replacement of heavy structures. The addition of extra lanes increased the feeding capacity to the case packer, improving safety and productivity.
This series of interventions confirms BBM as a reliable and strategic partner, capable of supporting Oleificio Zucchi in its path of innovation, quality, and sustainability.
Oleificio Zucchi and the circular economy
Oleificio Zucchi adheres to SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production – promoting an industrial approach focused on efficiency, waste reduction, and optimal resource use. In line with its materiality analysis, the company carefully evaluates the social and environmental impacts throughout the entire life cycle of its products and invests in solutions that promote the circular economy. In this context, choosing to purchase used and refurbished machinery represents a concrete contribution: reusing fully refurbished and efficient equipment reduces industrial waste, limits the need for new raw materials, and extends the useful life of existing technologies while ensuring safety, quality, and high performance. This strategy demonstrates Zucchi’s commitment to pursuing responsible and sustainable production by 2030.
The new project: a refurbished, tailor-made case packer
The latest milestone is the installation of the OCME ALTAIR X30 case packer, fully refurbished by BBM Packaging and delivered with a 12-month warranty. The machine was supplied complete with technical manuals and conveyor belts to ensure rapid and safe integration into the production process of the facility.
A distinctive element of this project was the choice to use original electronic components, ensuring reliability and consistent performance over time.
Efficient time management and format complexity
One of the most delicate aspects was time management, designed to minimize machine downtime and ensure continuous production. The main challenge was the wide variety of formats to be packed: Liberty, Dolce Zucchi, Quadra, and Tonda bottles, all different in size and characteristics. The types of cartons to use were also varied, including classic and windowed cartons, increasing operational complexity.
Turnkey installation and customized layout
BBM Packaging took care of the complete study of the plant layout, optimizing space and production flows. Special attention was given to the design of the infeed conveyor, equipped with channeled adjustable sides, designed to simplify and speed up format changes for operators.
Six formats, one machine, 30 packs per minute
The OCME ALTAIR X30 was configured to handle six different PET bottle formats, from 1 to 2 liters, with flexible packing solutions (4×3, 4×2, 3×2). The machine reaches a production speed of 30 packs per minute, perfectly meeting Oleificio Zucchi’s requirements for speed and flexibility. In addition to the supply, BBM Packaging provided a complete on-site commissioning package.
We thank Oleificio Zucchi for the trust placed in BBM and for the constant, professional, and constructive collaboration that made these important results possible.
