With the aid of the MultiGuide Base multifunctional clamping starwheel, bottles with a wide range of diameters can be gripped securely.
Pretoria South African Breweries (operated by AB InBev) has enhanced its production of Corona beer with the addition of a non-returnable glass line from Krones, a leading provider of food packaging solutions.
The brewery is primarily known for producing Castle Lite, a popular South African beer brand, and Corona, a well-known Mexican beer. With an annual production volume of approximately 8.5 million hectolitres, it was crucial for SAB to streamline its production process.
The decision to choose Krones was influenced by their strong existing relationship, compatibility with current equipment, and reliability standards. Theo Govender, the packaging manager at SAB, highlights these factors when explaining their choice.
One of the standout features of this glass line is its impressive speed, capable of filling 100,000 glass bottles per hour. It consists of two parallel lines, each with a capacity of 50,000 bottles per hour, making it one of the fastest glass lines in South Africa. This design allows AB InBev the efficiency to handle different beers concurrently, such as Corona and Castle Lite.
Boris Tremmel, the head of key account sales at Krones, explains, “To fit perfectly in SAB’s hall concept, this line is extremely compact, with shared operating areas. This allows operators to attend to multiple machines, thereby reducing the number of operators required.”
In terms of labelling, SAB utilizes the Ergomodul modular labeller, which features interchangeable labelling stations. This flexibility enables seamless switches between different beers during production. Additionally, with Corona bottles featuring applied ceramic labels, the labeller is not involved in the process for these bottles.
When it comes to packaging, SAB benefits from having two different packers on the line: the Variopac Pro WT for wrap-around cartons and trays, and the Variopac Pro PFS for shrink packs. These packers are well-established and trusted for non-returnable containers. The Variopac Pro offers easy change-overs and expansion, allowing SAB to accommodate changes in packaging concepts at any time.
Another notable feature of the glass line is the use of the MultiGuide Base multifunctional clamping starwheel. This innovation allows secure gripping of bottles with varying diameters, eliminating the need for manual intervention during format change-overs.
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