| It was early in June 2009 that the thousandth Contiform stretch blow-moulding machine left the Krones factory in Neutraubling, and embarked on its journey to the client. It was quite a sensation, at least inside the beverage industry, when at drinktec 1997 Krones announced it would be making its own PET blow-moulding machines. The Contiform stretch blow-moulding machine premiered at the drinktec back then turned out to be a masterstroke for Krones and its clients. Admittedly, the new product took some time to hit its stride, because the sector as a whole first had to get used to the idea of producing its own PET containers in-house. A good three and a half years after its debut, though, the Krones Contiform had already triggered a minor demand record: at the end of May 2000, Krones delivered the fiftieth machine of this type to a brewery client – the Darguner Klosterbrauerei in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. This also marked the moment when Krones gained absolute market leadership for stretch blow-moulding machines in Germany, and kindled keen interest all over the world. |
Continual design enhancements and innovative optimisation of the Contiform swiftly put Krones at the forefront of the market. The Contiform Compact showcased at drinktec 1997 had by drinktec 2001 given birth to the new Contiform S series. In order to meet clients’ own individual requirements, the Contiform S is available in different sizes, graduated by the number of blow-moulding stations featured. At present, the Contiform can be fitted with small to large cavities for container volumes ranging from 0.1 to 5.0 litres. Depending on the container size involved, the Contiform can reach a maximum output of 72,000 containers an hour. And, of course, there is also the Contiform H for producing hotfill PET containers.
In 2002, Krones was also the first manufacturer able to offer an output of 1,600 containers per hour and cavity. Only two years later, Krones had upped the output to 1,800 containers per hour and cavity – another first in its chosen sector.
The 1000th Contiform, a Contiform S30M with an output of 54,000 containers an hour, is being commissioned by Nestlé Anderson in the USA, who is already operating five machines of the same type.
| Danuta Kessler-Zieroth Pressereferentin Telefon:+49 9401 70-2222 Fax:+49 9401 70-3496 |
