Beverage filling and packaging machinery specialist KHS Pacific had a strong showing at AUSPACK, with a high interest in its new paper-based open-top and closed-top systems for cans.
For KHS Pacific, this was one of the best AUSPACK shows for the company to date, as PKN heard when we swung by the stand and spoke to managing director Jens Kautzky and general manager - Sales, Houman Tarash.
Both reported strong interest in the company's filling equipment, and discussed a recent sale of the KHS Innofill Can C 48/8 volumetric can filler, along with a CIP system, to co-packer Garage Beverages. The hygienic filling line has been developed by KHS in collaboration with Ferrum seamers. Read more about it here.
Kautzky said, "Both the can and keg market is really strong for KHS, notably in the microbewery sector. I was relatively surprised at continued growth in demand for keg filling solutions during the pandemic, but it didn't drop off."
The talking point on the stand, though, was the new can topper system enabling the application of can holders made of cardboard, developed under the KHS Group Innopack Kisters brand, which adds to the turnkey beverage packaging supplier's portfolio of sustainable secondary packaging solutions.
Kautzky says, "We are noticing among our customers a strong demand for packaging alternatives that are single-use plastic free, especially in the beer and carbonated and soft drink segments."
Houman Tarash pointed out that both the open-top and closed-top cardboard holders can be applied to classic, slim and sleek can formats.
The system supplied by KHS is modular and flexible, which means that operators can switch to different cardboard materials or alter the pack size, among other options.
Kautzky said, “Over the past few years, KHS has built up an extensive portfolio of environmentally-friendly, recyclable systems and solutions. As Australian beverage manufacturers look to move to more sustainable packaging solutions, KHS Pacific is there to meet this demand.”
