Kai Acker, CEO of KHS GmbH.
The KHS production site in Hamburg, Germany, is celebrating its 50th anniversary and looking back on half a century as a PET technology pioneer as well as setting standards in the future.
“Our factory in Hamburg is one of the pillars and drivers of the success and
growth of the KHS Group,” says Kai Acker, CEO of KHS. “The last 50
years have shown just how much innovative strength this site has. Numerous
systems and solutions developed in Hamburg still dominate the beverage
and packaging industries today.”
The company’s success story began in 1975 with the founding of
Gildemeister Corpoplast, predecessor of the present KHS facility in
Hamburg. With the first stretch blow moulder manufactured in series, later
known under the name of InnoPET Blomax, the business established
competitive benchmarks in its branch of industry. Further key developments followed, among them groundbreaking Plasmax technology with its
sustainable FreshSafe PET system and ultramodern lightweighting
equipment.
The production site in Hamburg stands for resource-conserving plant
engineering and sustainable packaging systems. All PET machines by KHS
are able to process up to 100% recycled material.
The containers these produce can be integrated into the closed bottle loop. Thanks to KHS technology customers can significantly cut their material and energy consumption. One example of this is the new generation of InnoPET Blomax stretch blow moulders. Thanks to its optimised Double Gate heating system, it saves up to 40% in energy costs compared to single-lane stretch blow moulders of the same capacity.
Hamburg’s field of specialisation perfectly complements the network of
proficiency established by KHS’ further facilities in Germany. The focus in
Dortmund, for example, is on bottle washing, conveying and labeling
technology plus manufacture, with Bad Kreuznach responsible for process
engineering and filling technology, while Kleve concentrates on secondary
packaging and Worms on palletising systems. Together they ensure a
holistic, innovative pool of system expertise.
The PET market is growing worldwide. In order to meet the increased
demand for resource-conserving packaging systems and smart production
processes, KHS is expanding its factory in Hamburg.
A new production shop and enhanced research facilities are being built. By investing in technology, infrastructure and specialist personnel, the plant is also safeguarding its powers of innovation for years to come. One pivotal factor here is the team in Hamburg, emphasises Acker.
“Our employees are the key to our success. Their expertise and unparalleled commitment considerably help to ensure that we’re able to flourish on a global scale.”
