Krombacher Brauerei is set to invest over €100 million in upgrading its bottling facility over the next six years. This significant investment aims to secure the company’s future position in the food manufacturing industry.
As the largest and most extensive investment project in Krombacher’s long history, this initiative highlights not only the brewery’s strong commitment to its home location but also its importance as a major employer in the region.
The first phase of the modernization project at the Littfetal building complex in Germany, which encompasses the brewery’s bottling and logistics division, will see the installation of a new sorting area equipped with a state-of-the-art sorting system. This initiative is designed to optimize material flow.
“Breweries process a large volume of empties every day, which makes continuous and fast sorting necessary, in order to feed them back into the production cycle. The sorting effort is extremely high due to the different bottle types and shapes. The new systems make the process much more efficient,” explains Ludger Hense, head of bottling at Krombacher Brauerei.
Michael Kröhl, head of logistics at Krombacher, adds: “The conversion will also enable us to significantly increase efficiency in logistics. We are thus also committing ourselves to the reusable system in the future and are future-proofing our processes.”
Starting in 2026, four bottling lines will also undergo replacement. Notably, the conversion measures will occur while operations continue, with initial measures already being implemented. The complex project is expected to be fully completed by 2030.
“The modernization of our bottling plants is a clear commitment to the future of our brewery and to the diversity of varieties that characterizes our company,” explains Manfred Schmidt, technical managing director of Krombacher Brauerei. “Despite the enormous challenges that the modernization entails during ongoing operations, we are focusing on smooth implementation, in order to guarantee our high quality standards and our claim to be able to deliver 100% at all times.”
This investment in modern filling technologies and efficient sorting systems not only enhances process control but also provides enhanced flexibility in production. Consequently, the brewery is already positioned to respond reliably to consumer demand for variety, ensuring a broad product range moving forward. While the focus remains on the flagship Pils, Krombacher is also fully attentive to the growing complexity of different varieties, spanning from innovative beer specialties to alcohol-free beverages.
