Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), the world’s largest brewing group behind renowned brands like Beck’s, Corona, and Budweiser, has made a significant investment to enhance its production capabilities. In a move that highlights its commitment to meeting the global demand for its beverages, AB InBev has recently integrated a state-of-the-art glass line from Krones, a leading provider of packaging solutions.
AB InBev, which accounts for approximately one-third of the world’s beer production and boasts a portfolio of 630 brands produced in 260 breweries, is recognized as an industry leader. With a presence in over 150 countries and a workforce of more than 170,000 employees, AB InBev continues to dominate the global beer market.
In South Africa, AB InBev operates seven breweries, including the Pretoria South African Breweries (SAB) site, which plays a crucial role in the company’s operations. This facility employs nearly 900 workers and focuses primarily on the production of Castle Lite, a beloved South African beer brand, and Corona, a well-known Mexican beer. Together, these two brands contribute approximately 8.5 million hectoliters to AB InBev’s annual output.
To meet the growing demand for Corona, AB InBev has strategically partnered with Krones to introduce a cutting-edge non-returnable glass line. This significant investment underscores AB InBev’s dedication to expanding its production capacity and ensuring the efficient delivery of its products to consumers around the world.
The decision to select Krones was based on several key factors, including the longstanding positive relationship between the two companies, the compatibility of Krones’ equipment with AB InBev’s existing infrastructure, and the high reliability standards maintained by Krones. Theo Govender, packaging manager at AB InBev, emphasized, “We chose Krones because of the good relationship, compatibility with current equipment, and reliability standards.”
The integration of the Krones glass line brings remarkable advancements to AB InBev’s production capabilities. Notably, this line stands out for its exceptional speed, with the ability to fill an astonishing 100,000 glass bottles per hour. Functioning as two parallel lines, each capable of handling 50,000 bottles per hour, the glass line sets a new standard for production efficiency in South Africa. This innovative design empowers AB InBev to achieve both high output and the flexibility to simultaneously handle different beers, such as Corona and Castle Lite, meeting the diverse preferences of its global customer base.
Furthermore, the compact design of the glass line aligns seamlessly with SAB’s operational concept, optimizing shared operating areas and reducing the number of required operators. Boris Tremmel, Head of Key Account Sales at Krones, explained, “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.”
The glass line integration extends beyond filling to encompass labeling and packaging as well. AB InBev has leveraged Krones’ expertise to incorporate the Ergomodul modular labeler, featuring interchangeable labeling stations that enable swift transitions between different beers in production. Additionally, the packaging process benefits from the integration of two packers: the Variopac Pro WT for wrap-around cartons and trays, and the Variopac Pro PFS for shrink packs. These trusted packers for non-returnable containers offer versatility and ease of change-overs, accommodating evolving packaging concepts at any time.
Notably, the Krones glass line introduces a groundbreaking element to AB InBev’s operations – the multi-functional clamping starwheel MultiGuide Base, a first for the brewing giant. With independent opening and closing mechanisms for top and bottom clamps, this innovative feature securely grips bottles with varying diameters, eliminating the need for manual intervention during format change-overs.
AB InBev’s investment in the Krones glass line reflects its unwavering commitment to meeting the increasing global demand for its renowned beverages. By harnessing cutting-edge technology and optimizing production processes, AB InBev aims to continue providing consumers worldwide with its beloved brands, such as Corona, while maintaining the highest standards of quality and efficiency in the brewing industry.