How KHS is developing new technologies within the Industry 4.0 to fill the void across the production process

Rapid fluctuation and high risk create challenging conditions for management of the beverage industry, which is subject to extremely dynamic cycles of change. KHS has trained its focus on the industry with new developments

KHS production line

It’s a world of VUCA, which defines a world which is being increasingly characterised by volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. The beverage industry, too is subject to extremely dynamic cycles of change.

Within its company strategy, KHS has decided to focus on the fast-changing requirements of beverage producers. For KHS, for instance, this means focusing on the relevant issues in research and development. While a manufacturer presents its customers with something new on its own initiative in what’s known as a technology push, a market pull primarily denotes an action triggered by the sales market.

In order to successfully learn with and from its customers, established, trusting business relations are called for, which KHS enjoys with many partners worldwide. Only within these is it possible to brave new technologies with realistic expectations and without bias as to the results. This includes openly discussing both problems and progress in a kind of ‘protected environment’ in order to be successful together – but also that those involved recognise when it no longer makes any sense to continue with a project.

The partnership with the French food group Danone is a good example of this type of cooperation. This has resulted in the film-free Nature MultiPack, first presented as a concept at drinktec in 2013, was readied for serial production and then launched to market with the Evian mineral water brand. The same technological principle was adapted together with Carlsberg for the beverage can and launched to the British and Norwegian market in 2018.

“Implementation digitisation is more of an evolution than a revolution”

Schopp: is part of KHS’s automation thrust

Benjamin Daniel(BD): What’s KHS’ strategy for the beverage industry?

Matthias Schopp (MS): As part of the mission statement process managed by our parent company Salzgitter we’ve made customer orientation the value of the year. We’ve received constructive feedback from many of our customers all over the world. On this basis we at KHS will focus on effecting even better cooperation across our divisions and departments in the future.

BD: Digitisation with research and development at KHS?

MS: In its implementation digitisation is more of an evolution than a revolution. Much of this has been going on for years: new functions in individual assemblies are successively changing lines and machines; components are becoming more intelligent and expanding the possibilities of superordinate control systems; networking is creating added value, such as in process monitoring or machine diagnosis. We’re integrating these and many other aspects to form a turnkey system.

BD: In which direction do you think Industry 4.0 will develop?

MS: Industry 4.0 will create greater transparency in processes and in doing so make the operation of a line much more efficient. We can already see some of its manifestations: the evaluation of sensor data collected along a line, for example, allows local and superordinate functions to be improved. Other characteristics will ensue – such as for self-optimizing lines.

BD: How will this work in practice?

MS: In the DnSPro2 research project we measure the foaming on filling machines with the help of cameras. The idea behind this is that in the future the machine can optimize itself to suit a new product as the automated variation of the filling parameters replaces the manual adjustment process. Applications like these won’t be available in the near future, however.

BD: Don’t developments like these make machine operators redundant?

MS:  No. Our aim must be to make human operation of the increasingly complex technology demanded by the market easier. With the help of artificial intelligence we want to make self-learning and self-optimizing systems feasible which with their great flexibility can be managed by humans and thus enable highly efficient, cost-effective operation. This isn’t just our vision but that of the entire industry, also of our partners.

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