Every day, millions of bottles, cans and molded containers are fed through the process technology lines of the manufacturer Krones, primarily in breweries, the soft drinks industry and at wine, sparkling wine and spirits producers, but also in the food and beverage industry as well as the chemical, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. Especially for an internationally active group like Krones, which by its own account is synonymous with systems technology, the expectations of politicians, industry and its own customers with regard to the hot topic of digitalization are correspondingly high. It stands to reason that this digitalization should also be put into practice in-house. Building on this, the Group is providing its customers with adequate support in the fourth industrial revolution through machines and systems with high quality standards and a high degree of networking. "Our main aim is to make the entire design process even more efficient based on the existing 3D CAD Solid Edge," says Volker Richter, Head of Mechanical and Process Engineering Softdrink, Dairy, Water. Together with his team, he is responsible in particular for the design of process technology systems with a focus on the soft drinks industry, mixers, CIP systems and thermal product systems.

Bending under optimized conditions

The Contiflow blending and carbonating lines from Krones are suitable for producing a wide range of beverage variants. (Image: Krones)

With the introduction of the 3D piping design software Smap3D Plant Design from CAD Partner, Krones is relying on an internationally used software solution that is deeply integrated into the existing CAD system Solid Edge from Siemens PLM. For an optimal process chain, Smap3D Plant Design is the software solution for plant planning and 3D design that combines what is essential for consistent planning: the individual detail with the whole - from piping features in centrally defined pipe classes with 3D plans to complete 3D piping systems. Richter: "The plausibility checks and other functionalities in the planning software tell the designer at an early stage whether changes need to be made to his planning and whether the pipes can be manufactured. The considerable effort of redesigning when changing the nominal pipe diameter is also eliminated: the planning software adjusts all other parameters that are required to the newly entered value - the drawing can be retained." Among other things, the designer can check during the design process whether pipes can be bent by machine, for example if they exceed a certain length, which is referred to as the minimum bending length. This information is essential for orbital welding: the automated weld seam is only possible on the basis of a minimum length so that the welding gun can be positioned accordingly. If even a manual weld would no longer be possible due to the pipe length falling below the minimum, the designer receives a notification from the planning software and the pipe is not generated in the first place. This eliminates the need for reworking and corrections in design and production. Richter appreciates this functionality: "We are informed by Smap3D Plant Design as early as the design stage if we exceed or fall short of a length. This alone can lead to major savings".