Carlsberg announces US$11.6M investment in water-saving KHS packaging machinery

UK – The Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC), based in the UK, is undertaking a substantial investment exceeding €11.5 million (US$11.6 million) to modernize its KHS filling and packaging equipment at the Northampton brewery. The primary aim is to elevate environmental standards within its production operations.

By incorporating the energy-efficient Innofill Can DVD filler and the resource-conserving Innopack Kisters Nature MultiPack (NMP) packer, two state-of-the-art KHS machines are poised to enhance production efficiency.

Simultaneously, this advancement is anticipated to diminish water consumption and reduce the usage of plastic in packaging.

The augmentation in capacity for the innovative Snap Pack Nature MultiPack, a sustainable secondary packaging system co-developed by KHS and Carlsberg Group, is a pivotal outcome of this investment.

Edgar-George Petsche, the Executive Vice President of Market Zone Europe at KHS, underscores the significance of this investment, expressing pride in contributing to responsible climate protection alongside CMBC as a reliable partner.

CMBC markets the NMP as Snap Pack in the UK, which transforms beverage cans into a stable pack using a minimal amount of adhesive.

Over the past five years since its introduction in the UK, Snap Pack has gained prominence, with 65% of small multipacks from the Northampton brewery adopting this format by the end of 2022.

Notably, Snap Pack has become the most utilized packaging style for four and six-can multipacks, featuring popular beers such as Carlsberg Danish Pilsner, San Miguel, Birrificio Angelo Poretti, and Brooklyn Pilsner.

The recent investment in a second-generation Innopack Kisters NMP packer allows CMBC to double its pack production capacity, reaching up to 108,000 cans per hour.

Once integrated across all multipacks, CMBC’s Snap Pack is expected to significantly reduce plastic usage, potentially by up to 76%, compared to previous multipacks, eliminating the need for plastic rings.

KHS introduces a universal adhesive, compatible with the high-performance NMP packer, ensuring an optimal NMP for all standard can formats and sizes.

This adhesive, suitable for all outer coatings on aluminum and tin cans, further enhances the efficiency of the packaging process.

In the filling section, the Innofill Can DVD, working in tandem with the FS14 can seamer from Swiss Ferrum, achieves an output of up to 90,000 cans per hour in varying sizes.

KHS emphasizes the filler’s small hygiene zone, facilitating the targeted flow of sterile air through the sensitive area, enhancing operational reliability.

CMBC’s investment in these three machines, including two from KHS, is anticipated to yield a reduction in water consumption by up to 10% annually, amounting to approximately 18 million liters per year.

Paul Davies, CEO of CMBC, underscores the company’s commitment to sustainability, emphasizing the significant investment as a demonstration of their dedication to eliminating packaging waste, reducing water waste, and improving overall brewery efficiency.

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