The last construction machines will be gone in the course of the spring, when the comprehensive process optimizations and measures at the Dortmund site will be completed. According to plant manager Dr. Joachim Konrad, these were absolutely necessary in order to strengthen competitiveness: "As a globally active company, we are in a competitive situation and want to continue producing in Germany. That is why we have further digitalized and automated our infrastructure and production processes."

Key components of the modernization were the expansion of the production area and the renewal of the machinery. KHS built a completely new production hall on the factory premises on Juchostrasse. On an area of 4,300 square meters, the systems supplier has thus created the conditions to bring together the relevant technology for container and pack conveying and to make order processing more efficient. KHS also modernized one of the oldest production buildings on the company premises. With an investment volume of six million euros for this alone, the company not only renewed the hall floor and roof. The plant manufacturer also optimized the sheet metal production housed in the building with new technology, including a faster and more energy-efficient fiber laser, a punch-laser combination machine and a larger, fully automated sheet metal warehouse.

As part of the modernization, KHS rebuilt one of the oldest production halls and also brought the sheet metal production technology up to date. The investment volume for this alone: six million euros. © KHS

There are advantages for customers from the beverage industry, which include brands from all over the world. "The requirements are becoming more complex. Just as you configure a new car today, we can design our filling and packaging systems to meet the customer's exact requirements," says Konrad. "The high degree of individuality for the customer is offset by cleverly compiled, standardized modular product kits, from which the systems are automatically designed and built." Production processes have been further simplified in the course of numerous optimization measures.

The employees on site also benefit from the modernization. KHS has renovated both the company canteen and various office complexes, including the workstations in different areas of the company. With around 1,200 employees, the company in Dortmund produces machines for labeling, pasteurizing and cleaning bottles as well as technology for conveying containers in industrial beverage production. as