A total of 1,002 exhibitors from 55 countries attended last week with nearly 50,000 visitors coming from around the globe.
Last held in 2017, the show returned after pandemic disruption and other global uncertainties. “The preparations for this year’s event really were something of a rollercoaster ride," said drinktec director Petra Westphal. "The effects of the pandemic and geopolitical tensions have resulted in volatile framework conditions and uncertainties. And suddenly the first trade fair day is there. The world meets here with us in Munich after five years. The joy of getting together again is indescribable."
Overall exhibitors presented more than 700 new products and solutions, alongside the best of their existing portfolios.
drinktec will return in autumn 2025 with the date TBC.
Pictured above: Advitec Informatics displays its VR tech (pic: Messe Munchen).
A total of 1,002 exhibitors from 55 countries attended last week with nearly 50,000 visitors coming from around the globe.
Last held in 2017, the show returned after pandemic disruption and other global uncertainties. “The preparations for this year’s event really were something of a rollercoaster ride," said drinktec director Petra Westphal. "The effects of the pandemic and geopolitical tensions have resulted in volatile framework conditions and uncertainties. And suddenly the first trade fair day is there. The world meets here with us in Munich after five years. The joy of getting together again is indescribable."
Overall exhibitors presented more than 700 new products and solutions, alongside the best of their existing portfolios.
Pictured above: Advitec Informatics displays its VR tech (pic: Messe Munchen).
GEA unveiled a new sustainability option for the membrane system for beer dealcoholization at Drinktec.
The GEA AromaPlus PRO reduces the water consumption for diafiltration during dealcoholization by up to 100%. And as an added bonus, the alcoholic base produced as a by-product of the filtration process can be used for manufacturing other beverages in the brewery, such as Hard Seltzer.
GEA AromaPlus uses a filtration technology with special polymer membranes to separate alcohol and water from the other ingredients by means of reverse osmosis; these ingredients are crucial for the aroma, color and turbidity of the final product. Adding the new PRO technology to the water-saving CO2 blow-out function and the selective membrane which is already implemented in the AromaPlus unit design, GEA succeeds in saving more than two third up to 100% of the fresh water used for diafiltration.
“Our latest AromaPlus generation combines the trend towards 0.0% beer with the goal of reducing water in production,” explained Ralf Scheibner, filtration expert at GEA. “In fact, a membrane process requires a lot of water to flush out the alcohol. That is an issue for breweries with a limited deoxygenized water availability. Our new PRO solution is an important step for them towards fresh water neutrality in production processes.”
Also launching at drinktec was the new GEA IceCon Compact series for producing liquid food concentrates. The standardized compact plants ensure gentle concentration of liquids into syrup while preserving flavor and ingredients: mainly used for fruit extracts, juices, dairy drinks, alcoholic products or cold-brew coffee.
And GEA also introduced its intelligent software solution GEA Smart Filtration for membrane filtration plants, which monitors the plant status remotely via an app.
Husky Technologies introduced HyPET Complete – billed as the industry’s only complete, end-to-end, connected production solution – at drinktec this year.
Developed to address ongoing top-of-mind challenges of global producers, HyPET Complete is modelled to transform variability into stability throughout every stage of PET preform production.
“To truly succeed in today’s global climate, it has become clear that to be competitive producers need to think beyond just hardware to a more holistic approach to manufacturing,” said Robert Domodossola, Husky’s President of Rigid Packaging.
“HyPET Complete goes one step further enabling producers to build more resilient, stable manufacturing models that are less affected by shifting external factors. This is particularly relevant today as we see producers who are increasingly looking for more energy efficient manufacturing processes and packaging materials, such as PET, to offset fluctuating costs.”
HyPET Complete was founded on a holistic approach that incorporates factory planning and tooling lifecycle optimization, workforce training and development, a fully digitized delivery model and OEM parts solution, as well as the company’s recently introduced Advantage+Elite proactive, predictive and transparent monitoring solution. All components are designed to work together to enable producers to successfully navigate through today’s most prevalent challenges, including achieving circularity and sustainability, mitigating supply chain risks, preparing for skilled labor shortages, optimizing material and operational efficiency, as well as offsetting rising material costs and inflation.
Dedicated to continuous innovation, HyPET Complete is supported by Husky’s latest generation platform of proven HyPET systems tailored for the production of rPET that include a purpose-built drying solution, optimized energy management, enhanced melt control, automated mold cleaning, integrated part quality inspection, and more.
Krones’ 2022 stand at drinktec put the focus on ‘sustainability as an innovation driver’: concentrating its efforts on resource- and media-efficiency in production; sustainable packaging solutions and digital transformation.
“Krones has systematically integrated sustainability into its entire portfolio – including the fields of process technology, filling and packaging technology and intralogistics – in order to offer customers highly resource and media-efficient solutions. This development work is supported by digitalisation, which likewise makes its contribution towards boosting performance in our customers’ production plants while also increasing profitability and flexibility levels,” says the German process and packaging technology giant.
For example, Krones subsidiary Steinecker showcased its Brewnomic concept: which enables a brewery to be energy-self-sufficient by smartly using and recovering residual materials from the brewing and filling processes, incorporating the Dynafill which combines filling and crowning on a single functional unit.
Steinecker also put the spotlight on its KPI tuning services: which entails a thorough evaluation of breweries in terms of energy, technology, and engineering (Every process and production step counts, from the brewhouse to the bright-beer tank; and potential for optimisation can be identified early on and measures taken to exploit that potential).
Meanwhile, Krones’ Contiloop AI system, which is fully integrated into a stretch blow molder, measures the PET wall contain at as many as 32 points and responds to even slightest variations in material distribution and automatically adjusts the stretch blow molding process in real time.
Sidel debuted its Aseptic Predis X4 at drinktec this year. The new system for the aseptic packaging market combines the ‘highest food safety standards, unprecedented ease of use, maximum flexibility and best-in-class environmental footprint’.
The Aseptic Predis X4 is an integrated blow-fill-cap solution that incorporates consolidated Predis dry preform sterilisation, making it ideal for the growing market of sensitive beverages in PET bottles.
The new launch builds on Sidel’s proven and successful aseptic technology and introduces further innovation in design and digitalisation. As an evolution of its existing range, the Aseptic Predis X4 is developed by Sidel to continue to help its customers to meet the growing market for healthy and nutritious drinks with a long shelf life, such as juice, nectar, soft drinks, isotonics, teas (JNSDIT), and liquid dairy products (LDP). Demand for these products is expected to reach 192 billion units by 2024, a rise of rise 44% compared to 2011. Sensitive products represent 55% of the non-alcoholic beverages market and forecasted growth (at 2.3% CAGR 2019-25) is higher for PET than for other materials.
The Aseptic Predis X4 debuted at drinktec and will now go through a progressive deployment plan across applications and regions.
“Continuously listening to our customers’ needs, and taking into account their inputs, we have designed the Aseptic Predis X4 to set new standards in making our customers’ lives easier in total safety,” said Guillaume Rolland, Vice President PET & Sensitive Products. “Keeping the user experience at the heart of our design, we’ve made the system so complete, safe and simple to use that we say, ‘it looks after you’. It is easy, flexible and sustainable. It can be adapted to multiple production types and has the best yet environmental footprint.”
Swiss glass packaging company Vetropack Group chose drinktec for a ‘genuine global premiere: the Vetropack Improved Performance Glass solution, the world’s first returnable bottle made of tempered lightweight glass with a high level of robustness and low weight.’
This bottle was developed at Vetropack's Innovation Center in Pöchlarn, Austria. Not only are they 30% lighter than conventional standard returnable bottles, they are also more durable and resistant to abrasion, says the company.
Yet the development process still continues, as Daniel Egger, Head of Innovation, explains: "We are currently working on a marking system that we can use to apply a data matrix code to the bottles. This will enable us to make each individual bottle traceable. Our long-term goal is to have a more user-friendly return and recycling system with 100% bottle reuse."
In order to achieve this and other sustainability goals, Vetropack Group is investing continuously in the modernization of its production sites. In addition to the plant in Straža, Croatia, another production facility was recently qualified for the base glass manufacturing process in Kremsmünster, Austria. In Boffalora sopra Ticino near Milan, Vetropack is currently building a state-of-the-art plant that will go into operation next year and represent a further milestone on the way to the glass factory of the future. Smart technology will support around 325 employees in production and logistics: In a fully automated warehouse, autonomous vehicles will transport the manufactured products safely from production to the storage facility and all the way to the loading ramp. Production at the new plant will be significantly more flexible and allow the production of individual small batches which responds to customer requests for unique branding capabilities.
Guala Closures Group showcased its range of closure solutions for water and non-alcoholic beverages in glass bottles, including premium models and sustainable options.
Previously Closurelogic, the company is now Guala Closures Deutschland after its acquisition in early 2020, and produced more than 4.5 billion closures in 2021.
A flagship model on show at drinktec was the Talog closure, already widely adopted by the main international water brands. It consists of an aluminium cap with a plastic tamper evident band which breaks on first opening. Alu-Star, meanwhile, has similar credentials as well as an aluminium tamper evident ring that breaks into several sections at the first opening, whilst remaining attached to the cap.
The range also includes Star-Log for aluminium bottles, the use of which is growing considerably among ready-to-drink and soft drinks products. New closures on show included Spring Blossom, a closure for water and beverages with tamper evident made with sustainable biobased plastic; and NeSTGATE connected closures which include a QR code.
Fiber-based consumer packaging company Graphic Packaging International launched its latest machinery system innovation, ClipCombo, at drinktec.
ClipCombo combines multiple packaging solutions over a modular machinery system, offering producers the ability to run multiple fiber-based multipack styles across the same machine. Options are available for either cans or PET bottles in combinations including:
- KeelClip™ (pictured above) plus EnviroClip™ fiber-based clips for can multipacks
- GripClip™ plus EnviroClip™ fiber-based clips for can multipacks
- Cap-It™ plus EnviroClip™ fiber-based clips for PET bottle multipacks
Boasting high speeds of up to 400 packs per minute (dependent on application) and rapid changeovers as part of an impressive list of benefits, ClipCombo enables customers to differentiate between brands and position premium or standard options.
Doug Hicks, vice president of the packaging machinery division at Graphic Packaging, said: “We know many of our customers take their sustainability goals seriously, as do we. We also know that markets change and there is a need to future-proof machine system choices. That’s why we’re delighted to reveal the ClipCombo concept, a game-changing machinery philosophy that enables customers to select from a wide range of existing and new packaging options as well as container and configuration choices. Packers can combine products over a single machinery system, and be confident they have the options needed as the market evolves.”
“ClipCombo is the ultimate solution to optimize multipack throughput. It gives producers the flexibility to run premium and standard pack styles on the same machine and switch between them quickly and efficiently. At a time when labor and space come at a premium, this approach reduces the need for both.”
In addition, ClipCombo technology promises to lower capital investment for beverage packers, as the ability to deliver multiple pack styles with rapid changeover eliminates the need for several installs. This frees up space on the factory floor and reduces the number of operators required.
This new approach to machine system development will allow Graphic Packaging to add to its clip-style packaging range and further help customers eliminate plastic rings and shrink wrap across their product range.
Packaging and paper company Mondi launched Hug&Hold, a recyclable, paper-based solution to replace plastic shrink wrap for PET bottle bundle packs.
Hug&Hold comprises two elements that provide secure and safe transportation as well as stacking of bundles of bottled drinks. The first element is a patent-pending sleeve made of 100% kraft paper that wraps around the bottles to hold them securely. Made from Advantage SpringPack Plus, it offers high tensile strength and can withstand enough weight to strap and stabilise the bottles during transportation. The second element is a corrugated clip which holds the bottles around the neck. An optional integrated handle means a bundle of bottles can be carried and transported easily. Simple separation of single bottles from the pack by the consumer or retail staff adds to the convenience of the design.
Hug&Hold is made from renewable and fully recyclable materials, suitable for existing paper waste streams throughout Europe. The team worked with Krones to ensure Hug&Hold can pack bottles in a fully automated process with the latest Krones’ machines. Krones further offers options to upgrade its existing machinery enabling an easy switch to Hug&Hold as a sustainable alternative.
Italy-based intralogistics multinational E80 Group presented some of its latest innovations at drinktec.
New at the show was the company’s EAGLE T.R.A.Y.S. (Tridimensional Robotic Assortment Yard System). These state-of-the-art technologies are designed for the integrated, automatic management of layer and case picking, carried out using cutting-edge robotic solutions and automated guided vehicles (AGVs), as well as for staging and automatic truck loading, implemented by Laser Guided Vehicles (LGVs), all managed and coordinated by the SM.I.LE80 (Smart Integrated Logistics) proprietary software platform.
In the five years since drinktec 2017, E80 Group has grown from a revenue of 238 million euros in 2017 to 323 million euros in 2021, nearly reaching the 370 million euros forecast for 2022, of which half was generated in the beverage and liquid food industries. In this market segment, the Group has many European and international customers, such as Evian, Nestlé, Perrier, Coca-Cola, Constellation Brands, Niagara, Danone, Parmalat (Lactalis Group), Acqua Sant'Anna, NFPC, Abafoods and many others.
"Drinktec is one of the most important trade shows in the world in the beverage industry,” said Enrico Grassi, President of E80 Group. “We have been taking part in this exhibition for many years: it's a unique opportunity for dialogue with customers and prospects from around the world.
"This year we are once again extremely satisfied with the results, obtained through remarkable teamwork and our patrimony of expertise, solid skills and ideas. These qualities, from the 1990s onward, have allowed us to develop more than 350 smart factories, install more than 2,500 robotized systems, 6,500 AGVs/LGVs and, since 2016, 40 high-density integrated warehouses. With these impressive figures, today we are present worldwide, with 14 sites on five continents, and drinktec has been a great opportunity to reaffirm the global presence and projection of our Group".
