Packaging
Krones intralogistics for bottling plants
Thursday 28. February 2008 - Intra-plant logistics are being increasingly recognised as a core process in production facilities. Krones AG, Neutraubling, Germany, the technological leader in the global market for beverage filling plants, took this on board at an early stage, and can offer users appropriately affordable solutions for these sophisticated job packages as well.
Krones now possesses can-do corporate capabilities for process technology, filling and packaging, and logistics, with IT playing an increasingly crucial role. In the field of logistics, or to be more precise intralogistics, Krones creates holistically conceived installations, utilising established standard vendors for individual constituents of the system. This means that as a neutral integrator with a holistic complete-system approach, the company is able to tailor an optimum material flow solution to the specific needs of each client. To arrive at the best possible solution, Krones integrates machines manufactured in-house, but also systems from other suppliers, which are then put together to create an overall installation optimally suited to the clients requirements, controlled by Krones own IT. Krones is already planning and building complete beverage factories, including the warehousing and material flow technology involved. Thanks to the groups globalised presence, Krones clients can confidently expect optimum support anywhere in the world.
Since Krones AG added intralogistics to its capability portfolio in 2000, numerous sophisticated warehousing projects have been completed for very prestigious clients – systems for block-type warehouse management, lift-truck control, and fully automated high-bay warehouses. The projects completed are strategic investments in the future and facilities of the bottlers concerned. They support the logistical requirements that have to be handled with minimised staffing, or create a necessary increase in warehousing capacity plus further process acceleration. The intralogistics solutions from Krones provide a warehouse management system that ensures enhanced transparency for the warehouse and processes involved. Only with a system of this kind can the increasingly complex warehousing processes of the future be mastered for optimum efficacy.
By showcasing a scenario from high-bay warehouse technology, Krones enables visitors to the CEMAT 2008 to familiarise themselves with the firms corporate capabilities in the field of intralogistics. An electric overhead conveyor vehicle designed for transporting two pallets is embedded in a high-bay warehouse scene with a height and width accommodating several pallets. And an impressive computer animation for controlling the functions involved vividly communicates the holistic spectrum of solutions Krones is able to offer for intralogistics.
For Krones and the line operators, intralogistics constitute a highly fruitful horizontal expansion of the firms capability portfolio, integrating warehousing technology into holistically conceived solutions, all the way through to construction of entire factories. Because intralogistics is an up-to-the-future issue for all bottling plants.