At interpack 2026, KHS demonstrated how flexibility, automation and sustainability are shaping the future of packaging and processing for the beverage and liquid food sectors.
The company positioned its latest technologies around what it described as the industry’s key challenges – rising costs, labour shortages, supply chain instability, tighter regulations and growing demand for more sustainable packaging formats.
A key exhibit was the upgraded KHS Innopack Kisters TSP Advanced packaging machine, designed to handle PET and glass bottles and cans across a range of secondary packaging formats. At interpack, KHS introduced a new BottleClip Carrier application for the system – a patented cardboard carrying handle that groups PET bottles into stable packs as an alternative to plastic rings.
KHS also highlighted growing market demand for fibre-based and plastic-reduced secondary packaging solutions, including its Carton Nature Pack, which uses a cardboard topper to bundle cans without plastic film, and the Nature MultiPack system, which replaces shrink wrap with small adhesive dots to create stable multipacks.
On the primary packaging front, the company showcased two PET bottle developments: Premium LITE, a lightweight 0.25-litre PET bottle weighing just 6.2 grams, and KHS SUPREME, which combines lightweight PET with Plasmax barrier coating technology to improve protection for oxygen-sensitive beverages while maintaining recyclability.
Automation and digitalisation were another focus of the exhibit. KHS presented solutions including automated line changeovers, remote diagnostics, augmented reality service support and AI-assisted inspection systems designed to improve efficiency and reduce operator intervention.
According to KHS, the company’s strategy centres on delivering integrated line solutions that combine flexibility, reliability and lower total cost of ownership while helping beverage producers adapt to changing regulatory and market demands.
