75 years of Krones – a story of courage, change and innovation

Big stories rarely start with a big bang. Often, their beginnings are unremarkable. In this case, a small workshop, an idea and the firm belief that there is always room for improvement. That is how the story of Krones began back in 1951, in Neutraubling, Germany. Hermann Kronseder established a craft enterprise for building electrical machines, with just five employees and annual revenue of 7,245 German marks (around 3,700 euros). From this nascent business, a story unfolded that has shaped the global food and beverage industry.  

From its earliest days, this young business was driven not by dreams of growth for growth’s sake but by the desire to solve technical problems. How can processes be made more efficient? How can machines operate faster, but with greater precision and reliability? These questions informed the early years. And so, in 1952, the small team built its first semi-automated labellers, which could handle 1,500 bottles per hour. The first fully automated machine followed just a few years later. These seemingly small steps would ultimately transform an entire industry.

Off to new horizons: from a regional shop out into the world

With each new machine, the company grew – and so, too, did the company’s ambitions. Demand increased, as did the workforce. The technologies became more and more complex. By the 1960s, Krones was already looking beyond Germany’s borders, launching an export business and building relationships as far afield as Japan. In 1966, the first of many international subsidiaries was established. From then on, new plants were built and further markets tapped.  

What was once a regional company was now a global player. Krones’ big step out into the world marked the first major turning point in the company’s history. Growth then became the manifestation of a clear vision, in which technology aims to make production processes worldwide more efficient, safer and more reliable. 

A transformational shift: from individual machines to integrated production lines

As the company grew, so too did customers’ requirements. Instead of individual machines, they wanted integrated solutions for complex production processes. Krones responded by fundamentally rethinking the production line. 

In the 1970s, the company built high-speed labelling stations that set new standards for both speed and precision, making it possible to handle up to 24,000 containers per hour. At the same time, the company systematically expanded its portfolio. Labellers were joined by filling machines, bottle washing systems and, finally, complete production lines with individual machines working together seamlessly on a compact footprint. The latter was dubbed the Krones BLOC, and the first of its kind was built in 1975, combining an empty-bottle inspector, filler and capper, labeller and systems for checking both fill level and label placement.

The machine builder had evolved into a provider of turnkey production lines. The decision was a strategic one that substantially influenced the future direction of the company and is at the core of Krones’ identity to this day. 

Portfolio expansion and structural changes

The reorganisation of the company into a stock corporation under German law and its initial public offering in the 1980s laid the structural groundwork for further growth and strengthened the company’s international competitiveness. At the same time, Krones continued to drive the development of new technologies – from automated inspection systems to the handling of what were, at the time, state-of-the-art packaging materials, such as PET. 

In the 1990s, the vision of Krones as an end-to-end solutions provider begins to take physical form. Packing and palletising technology, sterile filling and innovative processes complement the existing portfolio. A particularly significant development is Krones’ entry into plastics technology with the Contiform stretch blow-moulding machine, which opens up new possibilities in PET processing.

In the years that followed, Krones continually and systematically expanded its portfolio in plastics technology to eventually include, among other things, Krones’ own PET recycling systems. The first such plant successfully went into operation at a customer’s facility in 2002, marking Krones’ entry into technologies that enable a circular economy. 

The next paradigm shift: digital transformation and new horizons

The industry changed fundamentally at the start of the new millennium. Production processes became more digitally connected and more data-driven.  

Krones embraced this change early on, launching a strategic realignment, reorganising itself as a multinational corporation and surpassing the one-billion-euro revenue mark for the first time. Krones machines became increasingly networked, production sequences were simulated and data became the basis for efficiency and quality. Traditional machinery manufacturing merged with software expertise and digital process intelligence. And the company’s role evolved yet further, from a machinery builder to a provider of integrated systems and solutions along the entire chain of production. 

Accepting responsibility: sustainability as a guiding principle

As the company grew in international importance, so too did its responsibility. Resource conservation, energy efficiency and a circular economy increasingly took centre stage in technological development efforts. 

The enviro sustainability programme was launched as a basis for developing solutions that measurably reduce consumption of energy, water and raw materials in production processes. The aim was – and is – to marry environmental sustainability with economic efficiency – for instance through energy-efficient machines, optimised cleaning processes, recycling solutions and resource-saving production systems. In all of that, sustainability was not seen simply as “nice-to-have”. Rather, it was – and is – understood as an integral part of technological innovation. From energy-efficient PET production to state-of-the-art water treatment systems and solutions that enable circularity, Krones develops technologies that reduce the ecological footprint of industrial production. 

Solutions beyond tomorrow: shaping the future

Today, Krones unites its strategic focus on innovation and sustainability under the motto “Solutions beyond tomorrow”. The intention is clear: to develop solutions that not only meet current requirements but also address future challenges, today. 

To name a few, these solutions include resource-efficient production systems, climate-friendly technologies, digital services and solutions for a functioning circular economy. At the same time, “Solutions beyond tomorrow” also stands for a holistic approach in which technological innovation, ecological responsibility and financial sustainability are considered as a cohesive whole. 

Innovation drives us – people make us strong 

Across the decades, innovation has remained the central theme in our company’s history. Krones now holds more than 7,000 patents – impressive evidence of our never-ceasing development work.  

But what lies behind all that innovation? People! From the very first employees back in the 1950s right through to today’s global workforce of more than 21,000 people – their dedication, knowledge and courage to break new ground make Krones what it is. Education and training, international cooperation, and civic and social commitment have always been part of our company culture. 

Shaping the future for 75 years and counting

75 years after its founding, Krones can look back on a history of continuous change. What began as a small workshop in Neutraubling, Germany, has grown into a global group of companies that is leading the way in technological innovation, with solutions that enable the production of beverages, foods and pharmaceutical products around the world.

The story of Krones shows that progress happens when curiosity meets responsibility, where visions are translated into shopfloor reality and where change is viewed as opportunity. And perhaps therein lies the secret of Krones’ success: that we never stop innovating – and we will continue to write this story into the future.