Patent pending | In this article, a new process for washing returnable bottles – patent pending – is presented. In terms of energy and water savings, it can be viewed as another quantum leap. Data is based on simulations of the manufacturer’s mechanical engineers and calculations of the inventor. The innovative process makes use of a combination of a bottle washing machine (BWM) combined with a high-temperature heat pump (HTHP) and integration into an (existing) cogeneration plant.

Active ingredients and their effects | Which additives are available for bottle washers and how have they been developed? This article explores individual compounds and the purposes they serve in the cleaning process, from special additives for specific cleaning issues to the filtration of caustic. These can offer opportunities for improvement but may also be detrimental.

Optima | Optima do Brasil has entered into a partnership with the Brazilian mechanical engineering company Quality Machines based in Campinas.

Krones | In the field of aseptic filling, Krones’ portfolio includes specialised machines for the various sterilisation techniques and products involved.

Higher Capacity | A growing market for beer has led Bali Hai Brewery Indonesia to install a new canning line, accommodating a higher production capacity while securing the quality of their premium beers. Designed and supplied by Sidel, the line runs at up to 33 000 cans per hour for the 330 ml format, twice as fast as the former one, and features a very compact layout, thus overcoming the Indonesian brewer’s space constraints.

European footprint | The global supplier of PET kegs OneCircle, Den Helder, Netherlands, is expanding its European footprint with the appointment of a new official reseller of KeyKeg and UniKeg in Spain – Bruni Glass Iberia.

Krones | On 12 December 2019, the executive board of the Neutraubling-based company decided on additional structural efficiency measures.

Canning line | When it comes to brewing, the Mack Brewery in Norway has long since been putting its trust in Krones’ technology, most recently for canning as well. This means the Bavarian plant engineering specialist is handling the brewery’s core remit, since cans account for over 90 per cent of total beer sales.

Empty and full container inspection | Returnable glass is in line with the trend! Gerolsteiner Brunnen has reacted to the growing thirst for refreshing drinks out of appropriate individual and GDB (German Mineral Water Association) bottles – with a completely new filling line. Highly automated Heuft equipment for inspecting empty and full containers ensures that Gerolsteiner mineral water is bottled safely and faultlessly there. The TornadoII dynamic labeller carries out the careful decoration of the glass containers for an attractive look at the point of sale.

Portfolio addition | The market for glass bottles is estimated to continually thrive over the next few years. This especially holds true for the beer market but also for other categories, such as water, juices and carbonated soft drinks (CSD). To keep abreast of this development and adapt to the ever more rapidly changing market and product trends, manufacturers expect new solutions, which offer high production flexibility, while at the same time guaranteeing maximum quality for their premium products. Sidel, one of the leading providers of equipment and service solutions for packaging beverage, food, home and personal care products, is now answering their call with a new filling system.

Ideas for the future | Industry pioneers such as Lorenz Adalbert Enzinger and Theo Seitz bear witness to the long tradition research and development enjoys at KHS. Like them today’s KHS engineers don’t always go with the flow but pursue many different paths in order to stay at the helm of progress. The article describes how KHS GmbH from Dortmund deals with digitization and other topics of the future and prepares for it.