KHS Corpoplast writes another chapter to its success story
With the start of its PET4Future project, KHS Corpoplast chalks up further success. In 2014, the company is realizing an approximately 25% increase in stretch blow molder sales. For 2015, KHS Corpoplast predicts a further rise in business volume by about 7%. This goal is even more impressive in light of the fact that according to Euromonitor, PET beverage packaging will be increasing by only about 4% annually by 2018.
Looking at the percentage distribution of sales of KHS Corpoplast stretch blow molders by region, Asia / Pacific is up front with 45% followed by the United States (24%), Europe (18%), and Africa / Middle East (13%). Frank Haesendonckx, CC manager and product manager for InnoPET Blomax stretch blow molders at KHS Corpoplast, says, "We still see an enormous potential particularly in the Asia / Pacific and Africa / Middle East regions within the next few years."
"One-stop shop"
PET4Future is a business development plan based on a 360-degree view of the PET beverage bottle segment. According to Thomas Karell, Managing Director of KHS Corpoplast, "Within the KHS Group, customers worldwide are offered a 'one-stop shop' in the PET segment as well. The service begins with the development of individual bottles at the KHS Corpoplast plant where the main emphasis is placed on developing the desired formats that are outstandingly prepared to meet all customer requirements with regard to the system and point of sale. In addition to high-tech equipment, KHS offers comprehensive line expertise in the production and processing of PET bottles.
The beverage bottling companies value this 360-degree PET concept greatly as indicated by the increasing number of KHS Corpoplast stretch blow molders being ordered together with KHS lines. Frank Haesendonckx reports, "At the present time, we are realizing approximately 50% of our stretch blow molder sales in turnkey KHS PET lines and this percentage will continue to grow. Most in demand are orders for lines designed as stretch blow molder-filler monoblocks as this concept allows even more extensive lightweighting than would be feasible for individual machines. Moreover, this concept offers customers additional cost benefits."
More than 1,300 InnoPET Blomax stretch blow molders in the market
All told, there are currently more than 1,300 KHS Corpoplast stretch blow molders - the inventor of this technology - in the market worldwide. About 300 of which are InnoPET Blomax Series IV, the latest generation of stretch blow molders.
Compelling full package of benefits of the KHS InnoPET Blomax Series IV
The full range of benefits has contributed decisively towards the success of KHS Corpoplast. The exceptionally low energy consumption per stretch blow molded container achieved by the InnoPET Blomax Series IV meets the demand for sustainability perfectly.
Measurements carried out at customer sites also show that energy savings of up to 40% are possible compared to the Blomax Series III predecessor generation. The servo-motor-controlled stretching process ensures maximum process stability thereby enabling preforms to be optimized down to the last tenth of a gram of PET material. At the same time, the system responds extremely flexibly, reliably, and operates with outstanding efficiency.
The interest in this innovative generation of stretch blow molders is increased yet again thanks to newly developed options. For example, compressed air savings of up to 40% are possible by integrating the Airback Plus system into the stretch blow molding process. KHS Corpoplast just recently launched its new Feedflow preform feed unit to market designed especially for conveying lightweight preforms to the stretch blow molder. A flow of air specifically directed into the horizontal feed segment conveys preforms consistently and particularly reliably to the machine.
Construction of yet another production shop planned for 2015
In order to meet the high demand for InnoPET Blomax Series IV stretch blow molders, KHS Corpoplast has been expanding its production capacity continuously since 2012 and has invested more than five million euros in new facilities to date. Of the 21,000 m² area currently occupied by KHS Corpoplast's plant in Hamburg 9,500 m² are designated for production, 5,000 m² for logistics, the laboratory, and technical center, and 6,500 m² for offices. Further expansion is planned for 2015. Thomas Karell says, "Our PET4Future project is on schedule. It shows that we have taken the right entrepreneurial steps. Our highly qualified employees from all divisions have contributed significantly towards shaping this success. This is something we can continue to build on. We are perfectly equipped for profitable growth now and in the future."
