KHS has comprehensively redesigned its fully automatic machines for cleaning and filling Innokeg Contikeg and Combikeg kegs. These systems, which have been established in the keg segment for almost 50 years, have been further developed to increase system availability and safety, as well as to optimise resource efficiency.
With this further development, KHS has pursued a clear goal, as Tobias Wetzel, KHS CEO Sales and Service, emphasises: „We have brought our Keg technology, valued for its longevity, into a new generation. It fully meets market demands and our customers“ expectations regarding hygiene, safety, and ergonomics. We have thereby created the prerequisites for maximum plant availability, high production reliability, and sustainable competitiveness." High growth potential is seen particularly in South American and Asian markets.
The Innokeg Contikeg cleans and fills up to 1,200 kegs per hour fully automatically using a continuous carousel principle. Its design enables a continuous process flow: the kegs go through all production steps within the machine in a circular run, without being disconnected in between. This ensures high performance and process stability. With the processing of container sizes between five and approximately 58 litres, it is suitable for a wide range of products – from whisky-soda, beer, beer mixed drinks and wine to water and soft drinks, as well as juices.
Focus on proven strengths
To further increase efficiency, a tried and tested integrated central manifold also contributes by centrally controlling media flow and thus reducing the number of individual valve actuations in the core process. KHS has fundamentally redeveloped the media supply for its new solution. The previous L-shaped media transfer has been replaced by a new valve manifold, which is already used in KHS's filling technology portfolio.
The consistent further development is also evident in the hygienic design of the Innokeg Contikeg. KHS relies on its proven cleaning concept for this: the hydromechanical cleaning process uses a pulsating spray with up to three different chemical cleaning agents. A hygienically sound system design is particularly crucial for sensitive beverages such as non-alcoholic and 0.0% beers, as these have very high requirements for microbiological safety.
Modernised security concept
The optimisation package for the Innokeg Contikeg is rounded off by a fundamentally modernised safety concept. With a multitude of constructive adjustments – from optimised safety switches on the doors and improved CO2 extraction to new protective enclosures – KHS is once again taking into account current requirements for machine and operator safety.
The revision complies with the current DIN EN 415-2:2025 standard, which is relevant for all machines, and already takes into account the requirements of the EU Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230, which will be mandatory from January 2027, as well as the EU Cyber Resilience Act. Cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important for the award of the CE marking. Manufacturers will be required in the future to demonstrate the protection of their products against digital attacks. The regulatory basis will be the EU Cyber Resilience Act and the Radio Equipment Directive with its requirements for IT and OT security.
The container-compatible, plug-and-produce Innokeg Combikeg machine is also based on the latest technology. Unlike its larger counterpart, it combines the entire line in a compact machine and covers a smaller performance range. This offers customers a particularly space-saving, quickly integratable solution that already meets the requirements of the future
EU Machinery Regulation and the EU Cyber Resilience Act.
Source: KHS
