At Adelholzener Alpenquellen, seven out of eight production lines with Krones technology ensure the highest standards of hygiene. The returnable glass container line installed in 2020 will be supplemented in 2025 by another line for filling non-returnable containers.
This container and therefore system type was chosen for various reasons: On the one hand, the demand for products for the on-the-go market has recently increased enormously; for 2023, Adelholzener an increase in sales of a good twelve per cent for disposable PET containers. On the other hand, the realisation of the disposable PET plant meant that the existing capacities at the plant could be ideally utilised.
„When we installed the first non-returnable line in 2006, we already took the limited capacities in the plant into account. Thanks to our forward-looking planning, we can now make optimum use of the available space in the plant and install another line from Krones.“
Erwin Hächl, Head of Central Project Management at Adelholzener Alpenquellen
Aseptics and performance in harmony
The new Krones line with a Output of 36,000 bottles per hour is intended to increase the bottling capacities for spritzers and water. Adelholzener has deliberately opted for a Contipure Bloc P, a Ultra-hygienic block especially for sensitive products. This first sterilises the preforms before they are blown into bottles and then aseptically filled and finally sealed. The performance version, which is represented by the „P“, uses hot caustic solution for machine surface disinfection and safely sterilises the product paths with steam. This process guarantees microbiologically safe filling with the fastest cleaning and sterilisation times.
The sealed containers are cleaned by a Contiroll equipped with wrap-around labels, then two Variopac Pro packs them into shrink packs or trays. Palletising is handled by a Modulpal Pro. In addition to the line, Krones is also supplying the appropriate process technology equipment with the Unipure product filtration system and VarioAsept J flash pasteuriser. The first products are scheduled to roll off the line in summer 2025, with acceptance planned for autumn.
Source: Krones
