News

Krones, the manufacturer of beverage filling and packaging technology, has developed a new generation of aseptic capping machines for PET-Asept lines that support larger bottle diameters.

The German company said the servomotors have been relocated upwards as drive elements, while the control cams have been positioned lower down, which makes access easier for care and maintenance.

The new design means that larger bottle diameters of up to 108mm can be handled.

The capping machines have been announced as Krones reported sales growth of 14.3% to €1.2bn (£958m) and a pre-tax profit of €92m in the first half of the year to 30 June.

The firm said rising demand for complete, single-sourced filling and packaging lines from international corporations, who are building new factories in Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa, was the main growth driver.

Krones executive chairman Volker Kronseder said the firm was "confident" of achieving its sales and earnings target for 2008. Revenues are expected to exceed €2.3bn.