(^24) FoodPacific Manufacturing Journal July 2019 http://www.industrysourcing.com
packaging
in the spring of 2018. Besides adapting the hardware KHS also
reprogrammemed the software for the whole system so that
conversions are now possible at the proverbial press of a button
within a very short time indeed. “The operator now intervenes
as little as possible and knows exactly what he or she has to do
to ensure that the filling result is always the same in the end. We
attached great importance to this,” Sum said. For example, at
the moment the changeover time from the last 0.7-litre bottle to
the first one-litre bottle leaving the labeler amounts to around 45
minutes.
Peterstaler was also convinced by the sustainability of the
KHS line. “Our prime source of heat for the bottle washer is
still fueled by oil. We’re saving up to 35% here, for instance,
and need less fresh water, thus producing less wastewater. Our
electricity consumption has also been cut by up to 55%. A lot has
been achieved,” he said.
Long partnership between Peterstaler and KHS
Alongside fast changeovers and low energy consumption
service and maintenance also play a major role for Peterstaler. “So
many things hinge on the people. When we signed the contract
for the system back then, I said that we’re now entering into a
new partnership,” says Sum. Peterstaler is also totally satisfied
with this partnership, he stresses. “In the coming year I’ll have
been with the company for 30 years. When I joined, machines
from KHS were already in use. That just about says it all.”
The mineral water bottler not only operates Dortmund plant
engineering on its glass line but also to stretch blow mold its PET
bottles – here again relying on the proven Bottles and Shapes™
programme. “We designed our first PET bottle together in 2004,”
Wille tells us. Over the years KHS has continued to develop these
containers for Peterstaler. “Here, through lightweighting we’ve
been able to make considerable savings in the amount of materials
used by the customer and thus also in costs,” Wille said.
The installation of the line in 2015 and last year’s
conversions were something of a challenge, however, according
to KHS senior service engineer Roland Streng. “The production
shop had the added attraction of being on the second floor. As
when we installed the glass line, during conversion we also had
to lift the heavy format parts in through the roof using a truck-
mounted crane,” explained Streng, who goes on to casually
remark: “We managed to squeeze an entire line into a telephone
booth. At 600 square metres, the area isn’t very big. It was all
very tight. But we did it!”
From 0.25 to one litre: Peterstaler uses
various bottle formats – and has relied on
KHS technology to fill them all. In 2015
the mineral water bottling plant procured a
new glass line from the Dortmund systems
supplier. (Source: KHS Group)
Bottles & Shapes™ info box
T
HE KHS Group has expanded its Bottles and
Shapes™ programme and now also applies its
holistic expert consultancy programme for container
design and optimisation to glass bottles and cans. The
company discusses ideas with customers, gives advice on
individual designs and at the same time identifies potential
areas for improvement along the entire production line.
During the process, KHS experts make detailed technical
assessments with their global partners up front and check
whether cans or glass bottles can be filled on existing
customer machines without any problems occurring. The
programme offers interdisciplinary project management
from order entry to commissioning. The new format parts are
specifically manufactured to fit the existing lines. With fast
installation of and all necessary conversions on the system
KHS ensures that new products can be introduced without
any hitches. Thanks to integrated planning with the help of
Bottles and Shapes™ KHS enables a trouble-free launch of
new products and a reliable time to market.