Another important milestone in the partnership

As a core equipment supplier and partner for plant solutions, Krones has played an important role in COFCO Coca-Cola’s development. Back in 2002, when COFCO Coca-Cola sought a machinery supplier, it was Krones’ proven expertise, insight into customer needs and commitment to quality that set it apart. This is far more than a simple supplier relationship: Krones has brought global perspectives and ongoing innovation to every project, supporting COFCO Coca-Cola’s production strategies and, more recently, its digital transformation. Through intelligent upgrades and efficiency gains, the relationship has evolved from equipment provider to long-term strategic partner. 

COFCO Coca-Cola’s business has expanded rapidly over the past two decades, and Krones has consistently underpinned this growth. Today, more than half of the equipment and lines at COFCO Coca-Cola’s plants are supplied by Krones, covering lines for soft drinks and still water as well as aseptic lines for sensitive beverages.

At the North China Plant – one of COFCO Coca-Cola’s core production sites in the north of the country –two Krones bottling lines for water (81,000 bottles per hour each) and one soft drink line (54,000 bottles per hour) deliver impressive performance. They ensure precise control over every stage from blow moulding to filling and packaging, operate with high efficiency and guarantee stable product quality.

At the facility in Jinan, another PET line from Krones with a blowmoulder-filler-block comprising of a Contiform stretch blow moulder, a filler with an integrated mixer as well as a capper, is in operation featuring different products and speeds. It focuses on fulfilling the rising market demands and the wish for flexible production. It is the first line in China to run at 81,000 bottles per hour for water and 72,000 bottles per hour for soft drinks. Incorporating Krones’ latest mixer technology, the line enables high filling speeds while maintaining sustainability thanks to an air consumption reduction by around 30 percent.

Value-adding solutions

But in a fiercely competitive beverage market, equipment alone is no longer enough. Positioning themselves as more than a machine supplier, Krones delivers a full spectrum of value-added solutions for COFCO Coca-Cola, from digital transformation support to process optimisation – always closely aligned to the customer’s strategic needs.

Krones has been a trusted partner for many years. Its high-speed lines have greatly improved our production efficiency and kept our operations on track. The technical support is comprehensive and highly responsive. During our digital transformation, Krones provided end-to-end support as a key strategic partner, helping to drive our transformation forward. Xing WeiProduction Technology Manager at COFCO Coca-Cola

In the era of digitalization, Krones supports the plant in North China with its analytics solution, which is precisely tailored to the requirements of the three lines. The system visualises real-time data on filling accuracy, equipment efficiency and product quality. This enables the North China Plant to fine-tune production, resolve potential issues and further improve both output and product consistency. The result: a significant leap forward towards the vision of an “intelligent factory”.

Furthermore, Krones also responds quickly to product innovations. When COFCO Coca-Cola sought to upgrade to the new 2622 cap specification, the Krones team worked on-site, optimising the cap design, adjusting the line and conducting repeated trial runs – providing technical support throughout. In the end, COFCO Coca-Cola had a cap that is both secure and easier to open, giving their products a competitive edge for the future.

Space-saving intelligence: multi-level layouts

Space is always a critical factor in production line planning. For the canning line at the Sichuan factory, the Krones team conducted multiple site visits and workflow analysis, ultimately proposing a multi-level layout: raw material handling, filling and packaging are arranged vertically according to production logic. This ‘vertical space’ approach not only saves valuable floor area but also boosts production flow efficiency and leaves room for future expansion. As one batch after another rolls off the new line, the Sichuan project leader remarks, “This isn’t just a production line – it’s a tailor-made ‘space-efficiency’ solution from Krones.”

Accolades and a new chapter

In over two decades of collaboration, Krones has earned high recognition at COFCO Coca-Cola: In 2023, Krones was honored with the “Long-Term Partnership, Quality Service and Sustainable Development Award”, in 2024, they received the “Best Supplier Award” from the Chengdu plant. 

From their first collaboration in 2002 to becoming partners today, the relationship between Krones and COFCO Coca-Cola has evolved into a model of “long-termism” in the beverage industry. And both parties look forward to continuing to write history together.