Margarine Container Production Machine for Spain Market

Spain's food packaging market is valued at approximately EUR 12 billion in 2025, making it the fifth-largest in Europe. The country's GDP of approximately EUR 1.4 trillion supports a population of 47 million with sophisticated consumer expectations for packaging quality and sustainability. The margarine and spreads segment has evolved toward premium plant-based spreads and butter alternatives, driven by health-conscious consumers and the influence of Mediterranean diet trends. Major brands present in Spain include Upfield (Flora, ProActiv), Lactalis (President), and local producers under private-label programs for Mercadona, Carrefour Spain, and Lidl Spain. Spain's food processing sector is export-oriented, with EUR 38 billion in annual food and beverage exports to EU and global markets. PP resin is available from European producers including Repsol (Spain's own petrochemical producer), LyondellBasell, and Borealis at approximately EUR 1,350 to 1,550 per metric ton. The injection molding machine market in Spain is dominated by European brands (Netstal, Engel, KraussMaffei, Arburg) but Chinese manufacturers are gaining share in the value segment. Spain's established packaging converter industry includes companies like Plastipak Iberia, ITC Packaging, and Coexpan.

Injection molding machines enter Spain (EU) under HS code 8477.10 with 0% import duty from China under the EU's standard tariff for plastic processing machinery. VAT of 21% applies on the customs value. CE marking is mandatory for machinery sold in the EU, and HWAMDA machines carry full CE certification under the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, including risk assessment, declaration of conformity, and technical construction file. Food-contact packaging must comply with EU Regulation 10/2011 on plastic materials intended to come into contact with food, which specifies overall migration limits, specific migration limits for individual substances, and an EU positive list of authorized monomers and additives. PP used for margarine containers must demonstrate compliance through specific migration testing for fat simulants. Spanish food safety enforcement falls under AESAN (Agencia Espanola de Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutricion). HWAMDA provides EU-formatted CE documentation, including the declaration of conformity in Spanish, technical construction file, and user manual complying with EU language requirements.

For Spanish margarine container production, HWAMDA recommends the SPV5-400 (4,000 kN) with 4-cavity IML molds for 250-gram to 500-gram tubs. The machine produces 500-gram margarine containers at 22 to 28 grams with 0.5 mm wall thickness, achieving 6 to 8 second cycle times for 1,800 to 2,400 containers per hour. The SWITEK IML system provides CMYK + white label capability with plus or minus 0.1 mm placement accuracy, meeting European retail presentation standards. The servo-hydraulic drive consumes 1.0 to 1.2 kWh per kilogram, competitive with hybrid European machines at 0.8 to 1.2 kWh per kilogram. The INOVA controller provides the process monitoring and data logging required for EU food safety traceability. HWAMDA's machines support PP-to-PP mono-material IML, where both the container wall and label are polypropylene, meeting Spain's increasingly strict packaging recyclability requirements under EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). For Spanish converters, HWAMDA positions as a complement to existing European machines, offering additional capacity at lower marginal capital cost per container.

A complete HWAMDA margarine container IML production line for Spain, including the SPV5-400, 4-cavity IML mold, SWITEK IML system, and auxiliaries, represents a total investment of EUR 170,000 to 260,000 CIF Barcelona. This represents 50 to 65% savings compared to equivalent European IML systems from Netstal, Engel, or KraussMaffei. With 0% import duty into the EU, the landed cost is highly competitive. Production cost per 500-gram IML container runs approximately EUR 0.04 to 0.06, including PP at approximately EUR 1,450 per metric ton, IML label, energy at approximately EUR 0.12 per kWh, labor, and mold amortization. Spanish market selling prices of EUR 0.07 to 0.12 per container support gross margins of 35 to 50%. At 85% capacity utilization, a single line generates monthly revenue of approximately EUR 60,000 to 105,000. Most operators achieve full return on investment within 16 to 24 months. Equipment cost per container averages EUR 0.002 amortized over 5 years. HWAMDA supports EUR-denominated letters of credit and T/T payments.