An €11.5 million investment in the modernisation of filling and packaging equipment at a Carlsberg Brewery in Northampton, is making Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company ‘s (CMBC) production operations more sustainable.
The successful implementation of this investment can be seen in the efficient, high-performance Innofill Can DVD filler and resource-conserving Innopack Kisters Nature MultiPack (NMP) packer, both provided by KHS. These new machines are expected to play a key role in improving production while reducing water consumption and plastic usage through increased capacity for the innovative Snap Pack Nature MultiPack packaging system.
According to Edgar-George Petsche, executive vice-president of Market Zone Europe at KHS, “Energy-efficient lines and machines, and safe, environmentally-friendly packaging systems are key components of our sustainability strategy. With this latest investment in our pioneering packaging system and the trust shown in our flexible can filler, we’re proud to be helping to responsibly protect our climate together with CMBC as their reliable partner.”
Nature MultiPack, marketed as Snap Pack in the UK, converts beverage cans into a stable pack using a minimal amount of adhesive. Since its launch five years ago, Snap Pack has become the most widely used packaging style for multipacks of four and six cans at the Northampton brewery.
This recent investment in a second-generation Innopack Kisters NMP packer has doubled the number of packs produced, with an increased capacity of up to 108,000 cans per hour. Furthermore, Snap Pack is expected to reduce plastic usage by up to 76% due to its elimination of the need for plastic rings.
The Innofill Can DVD, used in combination with the FS14 can seamer from Swiss Ferrum, show significant efficiency and operational reliability on the line. The Innofill Can DVD offers an output of up to 90,000 cans per hour and holds 0.33, 0.44, or 0.5 litres in its flexible KHS filler, which boasts an extremely small hygiene zone that ensures an optimum, targeted flow of sterile air through the sensitive area.
Overall, the new investments at the brewery are expected to decrease water consumption by up to 10% annually, amounting to a reduction of around 18 million litres every year.
CMBC’s CEO, Paul Davies, states, “This major investment of more than £10m in Northampton demonstrates our clear commitment to eliminating packaging waste, reducing water waste, and improving efficiency at our breweries. By taking ambitious action now, we can deliver on our sustainability goals and enable even more of our innovative Snap Pack multipacks to make their way to consumers.”
