FRUGALPAC, the British brand behind the world’s first commercially available paper bottle for wines, spirits and oils, has entered into an agreement with Siemens Financial Services (SFS) to support customer financing for its Frugal Bottle Assembly Machine (FBAM-2).
Under the agreement, Siemens will offer qualifying customers a structured lease-purchase scheme to finance the FBAM-2, subject to standard lending criteria. The move is designed to help wine, spirits and olive oil producers accelerate the adoption of lower-carbon packaging by making it easier to invest in local Frugal Bottle production.
The FBAM-2 represents the next generation of Frugalpac’s paper bottle manufacturing technology. Designed as a scalable, multi-lane platform with ‘advanced automation’, a standard three-lane configuration is said to be capable of producing up to 14 million Frugal Bottles annually, more than five times the capacity of its predecessor, FBAM-1.
The new bottles produced on the FBAM-2 are made from 100% recycled paperboard with the bottle weight reduced to just 71g, described as six times lighter than a standard glass bottle.
Siemens also provided automation components for the higher-efficiency FBAM-2 platform.
Malcolm Waugh, CEO of Frugalpac, said, “Siemens is an important technology partner for Frugalpac, supplying the advanced automation components that power our new FBAM-2 platform. The fact that Siemens Financial Services, part of Siemens AG, is prepared to support customers investing in this technology is a significant endorsement of Frugalpac’s innovation capabilities and our vision to accelerate the adoption of lower-carbon packaging across the global wines, spirits and olive oil markets.
“This agreement creates an even easier pathway for customers to install Frugal Bottle Assembly Machines and produce Frugal Bottles locally. That helps reduce carbon emissions and EPR costs, strengthens supply chains and provides brands and consumers with a genuinely sustainable packaging alternative. The Frugal Bottle also offers a unique 360-degree branding opportunity, helping products stand out on shelf, while delivering both environmental and commercial benefits.”
Carolyn Newsham, SFS account manager for Siemens plc, added, “Innovation delivers the greatest impact when businesses can access it quickly and efficiently. Through this agreement, we are helping remove a potential barrier to investment by providing financing solutions for Frugalpac’s next-generation Frugal Bottle Assembly Machine.
“We look forward to supporting customers as they invest in technology that enables local production, strengthens supply chains and contributes to their wider sustainability ambitions.”
The agreement forms part of Frugalpac’s international growth strategy as it expands its network of licensed manufacturing partners. Since launching in 2020, the Frugal Bottle has been adopted by drinks brands in 27 countries and has been stocked by retailers including Aldi, Sainsbury’s, Target, 7-eleven, Whole Foods and Carrefour.
