Food Container Production Machine for Argentina Market

Argentina ranks as the third-largest economy in Latin America with a GDP per capita of approximately USD 13,700 and a well-established food processing industry. The country's food packaging market is valued at around USD 1,450 million, with rigid plastic packaging accounting for a growing share as manufacturers shift from glass and metal containers to lightweight PP alternatives. Annual plastic packaging production exceeds 520,000 tonnes, supported by approximately 180 injection molding companies operating across Buenos Aires, Cordoba, and Rosario industrial zones. Major food packaging producers include Bemis Argentina (now Amcor), Sealed Air Argentina, Zupays, and Tamer, alongside dozens of mid-size converters supplying dairy, meat, and prepared food brands. Argentina's dairy sector is a key driver, with per capita yogurt consumption exceeding 8 kg annually, one of the highest in Latin America. Leading dairy brands including La Serenisima (Mastellone), Danone Argentina, and SanCor collectively consume hundreds of millions of food containers per year. The trend toward portion-controlled packaging and ready-to-eat meals is accelerating demand for 250-750ml thin-wall containers with tamper-evident closures and IML decoration.

Importing injection molding machinery into Argentina requires compliance with several regulatory frameworks. Machinery enters under HS code 8477.10, with a standard MFN import duty of 14% plus a 21% VAT (IVA) on the CIF value. However, capital goods for industrial use may qualify for reduced rates under Argentina's capital goods import regime (Decreto 379/2001), potentially lowering the effective duty to 0% with proper AFIP registration. All food-contact packaging must comply with ANMAT (Administracion Nacional de Medicamentos, Alimentos y Tecnologia Medica) regulations, specifically Resolucion GMC 39/19 for plastic materials in contact with food, harmonized with Mercosur standards. CE marking on the machine demonstrates compliance with international safety standards and facilitates import approval. Electrical standards follow IRAM requirements at 380V/50Hz three-phase. Argentine customs requires a Certificado de Importacion and pre-shipment inspection for machinery exceeding USD 3,000 FOB. Import documentation must include commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, and machine technical documentation in Spanish. HWAMDA provides all required documentation including CE certificates, ANMAT material compliance letters, and Spanish-language technical manuals.

For the Argentine food container market, HWAMDA recommends the HMD 480M8-SPV (4,800 kN clamping force) as the primary production platform. This machine delivers injection speeds of 517 mm/s with 164 MPa injection pressure, filling 0.5mm wall containers across 4-8 cavity molds without hesitation marks. The 1,190 x 1,140 mm platen accommodates rectangular container molds up to 750mm thickness. For larger containers or IML applications, the HMD 450M8-SPV provides an alternative with 4,500 kN clamping and injection volume of 918-1,078 cm3. The recommended mold configuration for Argentina is a 6-cavity 650ml rectangular container mold in 2344 steel with valve gate hot runner system, producing containers at 15-20g part weight and 5.5-6.5 second cycle times. The complete production line includes the SPV5 machine, thin-wall mold, SWITEK SW67 take-out robot, XC-LF15A industrial water chiller (51.7 kW cooling capacity), XCAL-5HP vacuum hopper loader, and volumetric doser. The servo-hydraulic drive system consumes approximately 1.0-1.2 kWh/kg, delivering 30-35% energy savings versus conventional hydraulic machines commonly used in Argentine factories. The INOVA controller with 10-inch LED display supports Spanish-language interface.

Total investment for a complete HWAMDA food container production line for Argentina ranges from USD 220,000 to USD 320,000, including the HMD 480M8-SPV machine (USD 100,000-130,000), 6-cavity 650ml container mold (USD 15,000-22,000), SWITEK take-out robot (USD 18,000-25,000), chiller, loader, and auxiliaries. At 6-cavity configuration running 6-second cycles with 85% OEE over 22 hours daily, the line produces approximately 3,600 containers per hour or 59,400 per day. Annual output exceeds 19.6 million containers at 330 operating days. Production cost per 650ml container breaks down as: PP resin USD 0.017-0.022, energy USD 0.002, labor USD 0.002, mold amortization USD 0.001, totaling approximately USD 0.022-0.027 per container. With domestic selling prices of USD 0.06-0.10 per container in Argentina, gross margins range from 55-73%. At conservative pricing assumptions, annual gross profit exceeds USD 700,000, supporting equipment payback within 14-18 months. HWAMDA offers flexible payment terms including 30% T/T deposit with 70% balance against B/L copy, and can assist with Argentine bank LC arrangements. Contact sales@hwamdaglobal.com or WhatsApp +86-159-5888-5672 for a detailed quotation.