Elb-Milch Relies on Safe Filling Technology from KHS

With a production volume of 100,000 metric tons a year, Milchwerke Mittelelbe GmbH (or Elb-Milch for short), part of the successful Krüger Group, is one of the leading suppliers of milk and mixed milk beverages and powdered milk in Germany. Based in Stendal in the German federal state of Saxony-Anhalt, over the past few years the company has primarily established itself in the growth segment of milk and mixed milk beverages. Its range of products, which chiefly comprises generic brands for national discounters, demands great flexibility as regards diversity and packaging sizes and has to be aseptically filled without compromise.

For over a decade now Elb-Milch has thus relied on the KHS Innosept ABF 710 linear aseptic filling system. Uwe Bedau, managing director of Milchwerke Mittelelbe, states, "This system in particular gives us the best protection for our sensitive milk products and packs them in top quality with the utmost efficiency. We can also flexibly fill our products into HDPE and PET bottles holding between 0.25 and 0.75 liters."

With the help of this linear system from KHS Elb-Milch can process around 80,000 liters of milk per day to create a number of different products. The company is especially convinced by the high line availability of over 90% and the technical very low-maintenance concept of the filling machine. Based on the good experience they have had, Elb-Milch has now invested in two more identical, second-hand fillers which are currently being overhauled by KHS before being put into operation. The milk producer from Germany's northeast is thus again relying on the professional expert advice provided by the systems supplier from Dortmund, which also includes a full used machine consultancy program.

The Innosept Asbofill 710 already in operation and the revamped Series 711 machines all have the same tried-and-tested filling technology. Says Bedau, "Firstly, the filler's aseptic zone, which is comparatively very small, gives us a contamination-free filling process with its non-contact, free-flow filling system. Secondly, the dry aseptic process helps us to save valuable water resources during production. Our company also uses a combined heat and power plant which has been specially designed to our specifications, with which we save about 19,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions a year."

Sustainability has always played a big role at Elb-Milch and is part of a very special philosophy. Bedau explains. "[Sustainability] means much more to us than just saving a bit of energy or water here and there. Our actions as a company should instead help to yield the best possible result for both man and the environment with the optimum use of resources."

This is just one of the reasons why Elb-Milch decided to further invest in two used, high-quality KHS machines. Previous experience with KHS' service concept triggered the decision to procure the two additional linear fillers. With this acquisition Elb-Milch can now access a full range of services which will generate further synergies for the company regarding costs for both maintenance and spare parts.

Source: KHS GmbH