Krones

For Austrian actress, see Therese Krones.
Krones AG
Aktiengesellschaft
Traded as FWB: KRN
Industry Manufacturing, systems engineering
Founded 1951
Founder Herman Kronseder
Headquarters Neutraubling, Germany
Key people
 Volker Kronseder (CEO and chairman of the executive board), Ernst Baumann (Chairman of the supervisory board)
Products Machinery and production lines for bottling, canning and other packaging
Revenue € 2.82 billion (2013)[1]
Number of employees
 12,285 (2013)[1]
Website www.krones.com

Krones AG is a German packaging and bottling machine manufacturer. It is the world's leading manufacturer of lines for filling beverages in plastic and glass bottles or beverage cans.[2] The company manufactures stretch blow-moulding machines for producing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, plus fillers, labellers, bottle washers, pasteurisers, inspectors, packers and palletisers. This product portfolio is complemented by material flow systems and process technology for producing beverages, plus syrup kitchens, for clients like breweries, dairies and soft-drink companies.

The company is devoting particular attention to PET economies in the production process for PET bottles. With what is so far the lightest-ever PET bottle for still water, weighing 6.6 g, Krones won the German Packaging Prize for 2008 in the sales package category.[3] The sustainability program, "enviro" is the group's own standard for designing machines and systems. The user thus, gets the Technical Control Board (TÜV) certified documentation of consumption data.

History

Krones' corporate evolution is closely connected to the socioeconomic conditions prevalent in Germany following World War II.[4] Hermann Kronseder, the father of the present-day executive board chairman, used his own designs to manufacture semi-automatic labellers starting with 1951. The continuous success of his machines meant that as from the 1960s, the firm's range of machinery was extended to include packers and filling systems. In 1980, the company was converted into a stock corporation as Krones AG. Acquisitions of other companies were the building blocks for the present-day complete range of machines for the beverage industry:

Corporate data

The headquarters of the group is situated in Neutraubling near Regensburg, Germany. In Germany in total 9,098 people are employed.[1] New machines and systems are all manufactured at the German production facilities (Neutraubling, Nittenau, Flensburg, Freising and Rosenheim). The internationally focused company achieves more than 80% of its total turnover abroad and is represented worldwide through 40 subsidiaries. The intralogistics business of Krones is handled by Syskron Holding GmbH since 2014.

Krones AG company premises in Neutraubling

Subsidiaries

cover additional market segments in beverage filling.

In the year 2013 the enterprise increased the number of its patents and utility models to 3,150.[6]

Corporate structure

Plastics engineering

Top priority is given to stretch blow-moulding machines for the production of PET bottles of up to a volume of 3 liters, with an output of 12,800 to 80,000 bottles/hour. The PET recycling system is based on a PET Flakes cleaning process equipped with progressive temperature controls and decontamination.

Filling and packing technology

PET bottle filling line
A stretch blow machine (right) and a filling machine (left) in block alignment without intermediary conveyor belts

Attention goes to rinse, filling and capping lines with a rotary concept. This is where the enterprise distinguishes itself from inline construction, since only rotary lines are suitable for high-speed tasks of up to 60.000 bottles/hour or approximately 100,000 cans/hour, including aseptic filling systems for beverages with a high pH value (> 4,5). For the disinfection of containers and closures, PES or H2O2 is used. Further steps in beverage production as bottle-washing machines, inspection and control systems for bottles and bundles, as well as labelling machines for cold and hot glue or self-adhesive labelling complete the product range. Packaging machines for bundles either one-way or returnable, sorting and grouping stations, as well as palletisation systems supplement the spectrum.

Process engineering

Brewhouse plant

Breweries can be completely equipped with brewhouses, including fermenting and storage cellar equipment, along with assigned supply installations. Further, the company supplies syrup areas, mixing and carbonising equipment for manufacturing plants of non-alcoholic beverages. Heating systems as UHT- and flash heating systems or pasteurizing systems are available for beverage preservation.

IT solutions and material handling systems

The control of production process and the integration of production data into a comprehensive ERP system. Other IT products complement this product range. Logistics systems take care of the provisions for production and distribution, such as raw, operating and auxiliary materials, as well as finished products, where either block storage or automatic warehouse systems are installed. In addition, commissioning equipment permit the manufacturing of combined product pallets. Corporate planning is improved with forklift guidance and yard management systems during the unloading and loading procedure.

Notable milestones since 1997

Business figures

Consolidated sales:[1][10]
  • 1,695 million euros (2005)
  • 1,911 million euros (2006)
  • 2,156 million euros (2007)
  • 2,381 million euros (2008)
  • 1,865 million euros (2009)
  • 2,173 million euros (2010)
  • 2,480 million euros (2011)
  • 2,664 million euros (2012)
  • 2,820 million euros (2013)

Sales breakdown by sectors in 2013

Executive board

Chairman of the supervisory board: Ernst Baumann

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Annual Report 2013" (PDF). Krones. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  2. ↑ Florian Langenscheidt, Bernd Venohr (Hrsg.): Lexikon der deutschen Weltmarktführer. Die Königsklasse deutscher Unternehmen in Wort und Bild. Deutsche Standards Editionen, Köln 2010, ISBN 978-3-86936-221-2.
  3. ↑ Deutscher Verpackungspreis
  4. ↑ Krones – Company history Archived March 3, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ "Krones Acquires Gernep Group - Quick Facts", RTT News, 8 April 2015. Accessed: 8 April 2015
  6. ↑ http://www.krones.com/en/company.php
  7. ↑ Brauwelt No. 46/47, 2000, p. 2052
  8. ↑ verpackungspreis.de
  9. ↑ vgl. Huber, Wolfgang, "Gebindekonzept mit Zukunft", in: PackReport June 2011, Pp. 18–19, Frankfurt/Main ISSN 0342-3743
  10. ↑ Annual Reports 2005–2012
  11. ↑ "Krones AG announces executive board changes", Packaging World, 31 March 2015. Accessed: 2 April 2015
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