Krones terminates digital container printing due to low customer demand
(All image credits: Krones).
19 Dec 2023 --- The Krones Group has chosen to cease its activities in the field of digital container decoration by the end of this year.
Although the group’s subsidiary Dekron has machines successfully up and running at various customers, the decision results from a review of Krones’ business strategy and the current market situation.
Peter Moertl at Krones’ press relations department tells Packaging Insights that despite several projects, there was not enough demand or interest on the market. “After a careful review of our business strategy and considering the market situation, we decided to discontinue offering the technology.”
Printing process
Dekron had informed its staff, customers, suppliers and business associates about the move in November. From 2024 onward, all of the service support required for existing lines will be provided by Krones’ expert service technicians.
Dekron has developed and manufactured machines from the DecoType series used for digitally decorating containers made of glass, PET and high-density PE since 2018, with the group’s subsidiary KIC Krones supplying the matching UV inks.
Moertl says that the printing range for cylindrical containers was 30 degrees and up to 190 mm print height. “Structured surfaces could also be ‘printed,’ and tactile structures could be created on smooth surfaces. The color space was CMYK. The output was ranging from 5,000 to 36,000 containers per hour.”
The printing process consisted of the following steps:
Phasing-out
Krones has synergized in Dekron its development activities and the business operations of Till, Germany, in which the company has had a majority holding since 2014.
The subsidiary will be liquidated effective December 31, and the facility in Kelkheim, Germany, was closed down as part of the phase-out. A reconciliation of interests has already been negotiated with all staff members.
In the past, Krones has realized several successful projects in the field of digital container decoration, asserts Moertl. “The main projects carried out were in the area of glass bottles. Despite several projects, there was not enough demand or interest on the market.”
By Natalie Schwertheim
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COMPANY DETAILS
Böhmerwaldstrasse 5, 93073 Neutraubling
Germany
www.krones.com
info@krones.comACTIVE MATERIALS
Aseptic; Caps & Closures; Design & Branding; Fiber-Based; Glass; Labels & Labeling; Machinery; Metals; Other Packaging; Recyclable; Reusables; Rigid Plastics
ACTIVE CATEGORIES
Synonymous with holistic systems engineering: Krones
The Krones Group, headquartered in Neutraubling, Germany, plans, develops and manufactures machines and complete lines for the fields of process, filling and packaging technology. And Krones also offers a fit-for-purpose solution for bottle-to-bottle recycling of PET containers. The product portfolio subsumed in the House of Krones is rounded off by numerous products and services from Krones’ subsidiaries, themed around digitalisation, for example, digital container decoration, intralogistics and in-house valve production. Every day, millions of bottles, cans, and special-shaped containers are handled on lines from Krones, particularly in breweries, the soft-drinks sector and at producers of still or sparkling wines, and spirits, but also in the food and luxury-goods industries, plus the chemical, cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors.
Since being founded in 1951, Krones has become far more than a traditional-style machinery and line manufacturer: it has evolved into an all-round vendor for its clients. Mechanical engineering, line expertise, process engineering, microbiology and information technology have here been harmoniously integrated for optimum synergies. Krones is nowadays synonymous with holistic systems engineering. The company’s success is based on some few but crucial strategies: specialised knowledge of mechanical engineering and the customer sectors involved, a technical lead over its competitors driven by continuingly high expenditure on research and development, production facilities featuring state-of-the-art equipment operating to the most stringent of quality standards, backed up by worldwide 24/7 service support, and most especially by the skills of its highly trained and motivated staff. More than 5,700 full and utility patents bear eloquent witness to the company’s innovative potential.
Worldwide, Krones employs around 16,700 people. Consolidated sales in 2020 totalled 3.32 billion euros. Around 90 per cent of its products are sold abroad. The group includes not only Krones AG (listed on the stock exchange), but also more than 100 subsidiaries and further sales and service companies worldwide.
Krones and its subsidiaries and further sales and service companies cover the fields of
- Process technology solutions for milk, beer, malt beverages, CSD, juices, water and liquid food
- Bottling and packaging equipment, including labelling, inspection, filling, cleaning, packing and palletising technology as well as conveyor and plastics technology
- Machines and lines for the high, as well as the low output range
- Digitalisation, like automatic control systems and IT services
- Intralogistics, like warehouse management systems, Inhouse solutions and order picking systems
- Valves and pumps
- Homogenizers
- Digital decoration technology
- Lifecycle Service
- Consumables
- Used machines
- Injecting molding tools and services to the PET industry
- Recycling solutions for PET, PO and Polystyrol
