SOLUTIONS FOR THE WINE, CHAMPAGNE, AND SPIRITS INDUSTRY

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SOLUTIONS FOR THE

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SOLUTIONS FOR THE

WINE, CHAMPAGNE, AND SPIRITS INDUSTRY

”YOU cARE FOR THE cONTENT.

WE CARE FOR THE FILLING AND PACKAGING.“

As flexible as your products: Solutions for tomorrow‘s markets

We don‘t know which direction the develop-ment of your product range will be taking but in any case, we will make sure that you have optimum filling and packing processes. It makes no difference if your products are to be packed or filled in bottles, jars, kegs, or other types of container.

The company KHS

The roots of KHS date back primarily to the foundation of Holstein & Kappert GmbH in Dortmund, Germany in 1868 and Seitz-Werke in Bad Kreuznach in 1886. Today, KHS is a manu-facturer of filling and packing systems with one of the highest levels of performance and sales worldwide. With its more than 4,000 employ-ees working in 14 production sites, KHS delivers complete systems and attractive individual solu-tions to 130 countries around the globe. KHS is a partner you can rely on. A company that understands the requirements of customers

and, based on long-standing experience, offers the best prerequisites for ensuring your market success for the future.

Success right down the line

Whether individual machines or entire lines, KHS offers the right solution to every filling and packing need while keeping its attention focused on customer satisfaction. We are thus able to achieve more than you expect, and with our extensive product portfolio, we also ensure maximum efficiency at your production plant. As a supplier of complete systems and individ-ual machines, KHS brings its full core compe-tence to bear throughout the entire beverage industry. Filling systems such as the KHS Innofill® NRF-OFE for still wines and spirits or the KHS Innofill®_{DNRT for effervescent wines optimally} tailored to customer requirements are compel-ling throughout the trade. Thanks to special fill-ing systems and innovative, patented develop-ments of international acclaim, our solutions are trendsetters in the beverage industry and are

the systems of choice when it comes to filling and packing wine, champagne, and spirits. With KHS, you are well prepared for all future trends. Whether Prosecco in a new bottle shape, wine bottled in PET, or whatever tomorrow‘s interna-tional markets demand. Our systems are already in operation filling effervescent wines like Pro-secco in cans and racking fruity wines in kegs for the restaurant trade. PET bottle processing has already arrived on the scene in the spirits industry where KHS machines are in successful operation.

Pioneer in the field of wine filtration Because Seitz-Werke is considered the inventor of wine filtration, KHS has traditionally close ties with the wine sector as reflected not only by the numerous complete systems installed to date but also in the many international publi-cations from our laboratory specialists focused on technological process improvements. KHS also participated in the cooperative laboratory tests initiated by the German Oenologists

Asso-ciation (BDO) right from the beginning and for many years has maintained close cooperation with various viticulture educational facilities and professional trade institutions by providing con-sultants regularly.

Revolutionary development especially for the spirits trade

The spirits trade boasts a variety of high-quality products and a wide range of different bottle shapes and sizes. Spirits must be bottled so that there is neither loss of product due to overfilling nor a loss of alcohol or flavor. More than 40 years ago, KHS was the first company in the world to introduce a mechanical measurement bottling system exactly matched to the requirements of the spirits industry that today is considered the forerunner of the inductive flowmetering-based principle of volumetric filling. In the 1970s, KHS brought another revolutionary development to the spirits market by launching its universal fill-ing valve that simplified considerably the han-dling of various bottle mouth sizes.

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SOLUTIONS FOR THE WINE, CHAMPAGNE, AND SPIRITS INDUSTRY

Changing wine, champagne, and spirits market

The spirits market continues to be an attractive value added category thanks to classical products such as clear schnapps, liqueurs, and brandies in addition to mar-keting concepts tailored to the market. The market orients itself more and more towards exporting. Internationally famous brands like Jägermeister boast two-digit yearly growth rates in the U.S. market. Prerequisite for this is that producers adapt to more and more individual con-sumer needs and satisfy these needs by offering the right products.

In a growing wine sector, German wines have gained noticeably and are enjoying an ever-increasing popularity internation-ally. The trend is towards fresh, fruity, and rather low-acidity white wines.

In order to meet these requirements, winegrowers and wineries are converting more and more to ultra-modern bottling and packing technologies according to the motto ”tradition meets future“. The champagne market in contrast is stagna-ting and has suffered from extremely tough price wars and predatory competi-tion. For most champagne producers it is therefore not a matter of concentrating on seasonal business such as Christmas and New Year, but rather stimulating an increased desire for traditional sparkling wines through new marketing ideas.

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PUTTING PREMIUM BEVERAGES IN THE LEAD

WITH TECHNOLOGY FROM KHS

From single machines to complete KHS solutions

Proven, economically feasible machines and process engineering and numerous innovations, have enabled KHS to also achieve an outstanding position in the wine, champagne, and spirits bottling market in the last few years. KHS has been able to maintain this position based on its extensive know-how in fields ranging from process engineering to cleaning/sterilizing, to bottling, and up to labeling, packing, and pallet-izing.

The intensive cooperation with leading research facilities and the knowledge gained from this work has enabled KHS strengthen and consoli-date its position in the market even further. The breadth of these solutions proven in the trade ranges from single machines to turnkey produc-tion lines. These soluproduc-tions are based on cutting-edge process engineering and a holistic approach to system planning.

’ Plant planning ’ Process engineering ’ Rinsing ’ Filling ’ Capping/corking/crowning ’ Labeling ’ Packing ’ Palletizing ’ Inspection technology ’ Keg processing Plant planning

Planning and implementing complete lines for all branches of industry tailored to individual requirements is one of KHS‘ strong points. Ex-perience, competence, and product and process know-how all combined to form a perfect whole. We develop solutions with top results and implement these results in practice in a technically and economically convincing way. All this with maximum system availability, high-est possible efficiency, and an optimum cost/

benefit ratio. Correct buffer capacities between the machines and optimum line control are key prerequisites for maximum functionality. Process engineering

We develop tailored process solutions for you based on your individual requirements and pre-vailing local conditions. Our core competencies are in the areas of filtration, pasteurizing, and blending. The successful KHS Innopro®_concept begins with product production and extends up to compact systems including process integra-tion and visualizaintegra-tion. The advantage: Holistic process competence without interface problems from only one point of contact.

Rinsing

KHS cleaning technology offers the right solu-tion for every problem and every task in the wine, champagne, and spirits sector to ensure maximum product safety. KHS rinsers are able to wash both glass and PET bottles, can be

indi-vidually designed to include 1 to 3 channels, and are controlled both mechanically as well as elec-tronically. Steam, peracetic acid, chlorine di-oxide, or ozone can be used to sterilize bottles. The spirits industry uses primarily single-channel rinsing systems that blow out new glass bottles with air or use the product itself for rinsing. Depending on the task definition, double-chan-nel rinsing systems are also used occasionally that offer facilities for both options.

Filling

With its innovative KHS Innofill®_NRF-OFE bal-anced-pressure filling system for still wines and spirits and its KHS Innofill®_{DNRT for} addition-ally effervescent wines, KHS offers absolute future-safe solutions. The high flexibility and the fast changeover capabilities of these systems also stand for maximum economy. Above all in the spirits industry, the trend in the last few years has been away from vacuum filling and towards balanced-pressure filling systems that ’

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outstandingly retain the flavor and the alcohol content of spirits. The electropneumatic KHS Innofill®_{NRF-OFE normal pressure filling system} stands for top filling quality. Using the bottom-up method of filling with long filling tubes, spir-its are bottled in the gentlest possible way. There is no foaming and virtually no oxygen pickup. With the KHS Innofill®_{NRF-OFE, the fill} level for changing bottle types can be switched at the push of a button. These developments underline KHS‘ leading technological position. Capping, corking, crowning

KHS also relies on holistic solutions when it comes to capping, corking, and crowning. Regardless if metal screw caps, natural corks, or synthetic corks. Natural cork corkers offer exceptionally high corking quality and reliability when processing natural corks, compressed corks, and synthetic corks. The high product quality in conjunction with natural corks is ensured by various accessories such as vacuum

facilities, electrical cork heaters, and cork dust exhaust systems. Whatever style of closure, KHS offers the appropriate sealing solution for all requirements.This also applies to aluminum roll-on caps used mainly in the spirits trade or guala caps occasionally employed primarily to cap high-quality products such as cognac. Labeling

Regardless of the container shape and the type of material you would like to use and which advertising accents are needed, KHS has the right labeling solution for wine, champagne, and spirits – a sector in which considerable effort is always involved in differentiating prod-uct dressings and design. You are well equip-ped at all times with KHS labeling machines that are versatile, offer a wide spectrum of pos-sible combinations, and a great variety of tech-niques. Precision labeling and exact bottle alignment for applying seal labels, for example, is no problem.

Keg processing

KHS Innokeg®_{systems also offer optimum} solu-tions for highly efficient washing, sterilizing, and racking processes and the handling of standard casks in the wine industry while taking cus-tomer-specific needs into consideration. State-of-the-art DCF keg racking technology reduces the volume of counter-pressure gas as well as the O² pickup. The result is an optimally control-led racking process with exceptionally constant fill levels. Perfect hygienic design additionally ensures extremely low-germ racking and reli-able operation. The extensive KHS delivery pro-gram includes individual machines and complete systems that set the standard in the field of keg processing. Backed by years of expe-rience, we constantly develop innovations such as the KHS ContiKeg®_{, KegBoy, and Transomat} racking systems designed for various capacity requirements that guarantee our customers an important competitive edge.

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HIGHLY FLEXIBLE SYSTEM SOLUTIONS – EVEN FOR HIGH-PROOF SPIRITS:

KHS SETS THE STANDARD IN THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE SECTOR

High performance for every taste

Whether wine, champagne, or spirits, each product makes special demands on filling tech-nology. KHS therefore offers the efficient and gentle product handling solutions for the entire beverage industry. So that the flavor and aroma of all products is retained and you can produce your products at full speed with little effort even if you need to quickly change product and bot-tle styles now and then.

Customer dialog is the recipe for success The KHS performance features are the result of years of intensive dialog with customers that have lead us jointly to more and more new solu-tions such as other filling methods, which can be implemented to fill champagne at tempera-tures of up to +19° C without gushing and prod-uct loss. Another example is a system for cold sterile filling of wine at a highest standard of microbial safety. With this filling system, you can bottle still wine, sparkling wine, and other effer-vescent beverages as well as champagne on one and the same filler.

Long-tube filling technology that fills your prod-ucts bottom-up in bottles in a gentlest possible way - in both glass and plastic bottles. KHS also enables you to fill top-quality spirits with a mini-mum amount of oxygen pickup without loss of flavor, alcohol, or product.

Perfect filling results from KHS

With more than 6000 systems installed world-wide, KHS is one of the leading suppliers of fill-ing systems in the beverage sector, and has set new standards with numerous technological innovations. Also in the wine, champagne, and spirits sector where with the KHS Innofill®_DNRT – a pressure and normal pressure filling system without filling tubes for champagne, sparkling wine, and top-quality wines – an alternative technology to the long-tube filling system was developed that is compelling based on its high fill level accuracy using the Trinox method. Or the KHS Innofill®_{MF filling system designed for} still products that optionally operates with nor-mal or negative pressure. The computer-con-trolled KHS Innofill®_{NRF-OFE normal pressure}

filling system equipped with long filling tubes, in contrast, ensures bottom-up, low-oxygen pickup filling without dripping and with high fill level accuracy. There has been a change in recent years in bottling systems predestined for the spirits sector. The current trend is away from vacuum filling technique and toward the bal-anced pressure method. The reason is that the balanced pressure filling method retains the fla-vor and alcohol content of spirits. For many years, the electro-pneumatic KHS Innofill® NRF-OFE normal pressure filling system has provided top-quality filling to the spirits branch of industry. The KHS Innofill®_{NRF-OFE offers} push-button changeover of fill levels for different types of bottle. When it comes to hygienic design, KHS scores an enormous number of points with its specially developed, revolution-ary front table with round, smooth surfaces. The lack of niches dead spaces, corners, and edges enables perfect sanitizing thereby achieving maximum standards of hygiene.

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The classical filling system for wine, champagne, and spirits

The unique performance features and details of all machines and systems from KHS are impressive:

KHS Innofill®_{DRF – ”the classical} champagne filler“

The counter-pressure principle of filling and multiple-stage snifting avoids gushing. As a result, the KHS Innofill® DRF is able to fill champagne at up to 19° C without condensation forming on the bottles for subsequent trouble-free labeling. The bottle height is changed at the push of a button.

KHS Innofill®_{NRF-OFE – for still} wines and spirits

The electronic, long-tube filling system can be individually adapted as required to obtain a filling process without

tur-bulence, without loss of flavor and alco-hol, and with minimum oxygen pickup. KHS Innofill®_{DNRT – also for} effervescent wines and champagne This filling system operates with balanced and counter-pressure and in addition to a variable number of pre-rinsing and evacuation steps, it offers an automatic, centrally adjustable return gas adjust-ment facility for fill level correction. The ideal system for filling of still and effervescent beverages.

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PREMIUM BEVERAGES NEED SPARKLING cLEAN BOTTLES:

RINSING TECHNOLOGY FROM KHS

Perfect performance

The trend towards more alcoholic and non-carbonated beverages sets higher standards on biological safety and hygiene. The increasing quality requirements also posed on select wines and noble spirits necessitate first-class bottle cleaning results. KHS bottle washing technology offers you maximum product safety together with fully developed functionality thought out down to the last detail for processing all types of beverage and container and unique know-how for integrating rinsers into complete lines. KHS offers built-in future-proofing right from the start thanks to the constant further develop-ment of our systems and processing methods to meet future market requirements.

Because the wine, champagne, and spirits industry uses primarily new glass containers, the demands made on rinsing equipment for one-way bottles are different. For less frequently used refillable glass bottles on the other hand, multiple-bath bottle washers are used whereas the current trend is towards regional bottle rinsing centers.

Single or double-channel rinser?

Simplified rinsing equipment can be used when filling new glass bottles in the spirits industry. It is usually sufficient to invest in a single-channel rinser that blows out the bottles with air or rinses out the bottles with product. Depending on the shape of the bottle and the style of prod-uct to be filled, further rinsing with prodprod-uct can be important in addition to rinsing with air in which case, a double-channel rinser handles the task of blowing out and rinsing the bottles. Both mechanical and electronic versions of all rinser models are available. The latter offers the advan-tage of variable treatment times and rinsing programs that can be changed quickly and sim-ply at the push of a button.

Rinsing equipment for wine

The cold sterile method of operation is used in this case, i.e. sterilization with steam, peracetic acid, chlorine dioxide, or ozone by electronic or mechanical double- or triple-channel systems. This method incorporates the bottle mouth area in the sterilization process. Rinsing equipment for spirits A rinser is used for spirits bottles that blows the bottles out with air or sprays them out with a product/water mixture to prevent adverse affects to the quality of the product.

Rinsing equipment for champagne Single-channel and in some few instances, double-channel rinsing systems are pri-marily used in the champagne industry. Simple fresh water spraying is generally sufficient.

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BRILLIANT SOLUTIONS IN PRAcTIcE:

SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED BY KHS

Completely monitored: Palletizing center at Henkell & Söhnlein

After a planning and construction period of less than 10 months, a palletizing and logistics cen-ter successfully completed by KHS went into operation at Henkell & Söhnlein in Wiesbaden-Biebrich.

Henkell & Söhnlein is one of the world‘s largest sparkling wine cellars and produces nearly 90 million bottles of sparkling wine annually at its facilities in Wiesbaden-Biebrich. In addition to the old-established Henkell Trocken and Fürst von Metternich brands, Henkell‘s range of prod-ucts includes Carstens SC, Söhnlein Brillant, Rüttgers Club, Wodka Gorbatschow, and Batida de Coco all bottled, labeled, and packed on six bottling lines. The entire range of products is palletized, labeled, and distributed to the vari-ous storage locations in the new palletizing cen-ter. Considering the diverse brands of cham-pagne and the variety of different packaging sizes, a total of 28 different formations are processed in the palletizing center.

Four high-performance KHS Innopal®_PL-series palletizers are installed to handle this task. All are equipped with fully automatic layer forma-tion changeover for flexible producforma-tion opera-tion. The palletizing center is centrally monitored by a camera system and a cell phone that trans-mit disruption data directly to the system super-visor. The intelligent plant information system records all operational and disruption data enabling fast reaction to any problems that may occur. The heart of the logistics is an automatic high-bay warehouse through which all pallet transport logistics of the various products are processed.

All guaranteed values for the entire system were validated within only a few weeks. As a follow-up order, KHS installed a new bottling line equipped with an electronic KHS Innofill®_DRF filler designed to process 30,000 0.2-liter Piccolo bottles per hour.

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Schloss Wachenheim AG, a Trier-based spark-ling wine producer continues to rely on KHS quality as evidenced by its most recent invest-ment in a computer-controlled KHS Innofill® DRF 126/9 triple-chamber filler equipped with 126 filling stations and 9 capping stations. The filler is blocked with an KHS Innoclean®_FR DL/72 steam rinser. Schloss Wachenheim addi-tionally invested in a high-performance KHS Innopal®_{PL 1 BSN 1 that was successfully put} into operation in the company‘s dry area. Reorganization was the first item on the agenda in order to integrate the new line equipment into the existing concept. Among other things, it was necessary to relocate the existing new glass depalletizer, which unlike the logistical tasks involved in installing new components, presented a small challenge.

The question was how to transport the new machines into the new hall. How could the sys-tem be placed in the plant if the doors are too small?

KHS thought out a flexible solution in this case as well – through the roof by means of a crane. A truck-mounted crane with a lifting capacity 400 tons was ordered that maneuvered the in-dividual sections through the roof literally to the millimeter. After all, the heaviest section to be lifted into the hall weighed 27 tons. No prob-lem for the experts from KHS as it turned out in Trier.

In the meantime, the entire 18,000 0.7-liter bottle-per-hour sparkling wine line has been completely installed and is running outstandingly. What remains are the memories of a very special installation feat and the good feeling of having a partner like KHS that is able to solve even the challenging of problems.

A VERY SPEcIAL FEAT AT ScHLOSS WAcHENHEIM:

MADE BY KHS

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Tradition and innovation perfectly combined in one – Winzer Krems, Austria‘s largest viticultural cooperative, makes it clear that this can be achieved in a stylish and convincing way. It begins with the new cellar equipment operating according to tried and tested methods, includes a very impressive sensory experience concept for visitors, and ends with the traditional use of innovative keg equipment for filling wine for the restaurant trade.

Winzer Krems produces nearly 10 million liters of quality wines annually, which are distributed in different sizes and shapes of bottle to both end consumers and to the restaurant trade that is additionally delivered wine in kegs. This still rather unusual type of packaging offers clear advantages. The stainless steel kegs are herme-tically sealed, absolutely lightproof, taste-neu-tral, resistant to corrosion and impact, and can be stored for virtually an unlimited period without any affect on the quality of the wine. Added to this is the decreased handling in con-junction with a professionally installed

dispen-sing system that always keeps the wine on tap at a constant and ideal dispensing tempera-ture.

Perfect keg washing and gentle racking are the basis for ensuring top quality wine in kegs. KHS provided the optimum conditions for this pur-pose by supplying keg equipment with a capac-ity of up to 60 kegs per hour. Winzer Krems runs the KHS line in a single-shift. Before the kegs returned from the restaurant trade are fed into the single-lane KHS Innokeg®_{Transomat 3/1} washing and racking machine, they pass through an KHS Innokeg®_{AK 1 keg exterior washer.} Spe-cific rinsing of the filling head with hot water is the next item on the agenda before the cleaned keg is hooked up to the filling head. This method guarantees maximum microbial safety and the perfect washing process creates the prereq-uisites for an ideal racking process. Maximum flexibility for all eventualities.

In addition to the white and red wines filled by Winzer Krems up to now, sparkling wine can

WINZER KREMS RELIES ON QUALITY WINES RAcKED IN KEGS –

AND THUS ON SUCCESS

also be racked if required using the KHS Innokeg® Transomat 3/1, which is able to rack other keg sizes ranging from the 7-liter to the 8-liter keg version.

”We rely very specifically on KHS keg equip-ment. The gentle filling process can be practiced outstandingly with our technical solution. The oxygen and gas pickup in the product is mini-mized and the natural effervescence is retained during the racking process.“ Franz Arndorfer, Winzer Krems‘ Chief Cellar Master thus verifies the choice of systems.

After all, Winzer Krems orients itself consistently to the market and is getting ready in the future for smaller format wine kegs for end customers as well as sparkling wine in kegs for the restaurant trade. With KHS, this Austrian winery has a decidedly innovative and receptive technology and system equipment partner at its side.

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REGIONAL WINEGROWERS WITH AN INTERNATIONAL cLAIM TO QUALITY

TRUST IN PLANT TECHNOLOGY FROM KHS

Badischer Winzerkeller relies on quality‚ directly from the Producer

Wines with a slightly stylized W trademark and a seal of quality equally embracing a promise of the Badischer Winzerkeller: Top quality directly from the producer. With this claim and the cor-responding farsightedness, Germany‘s largest wine producer was able to increase its yearly production volume to 30 million liters distributed in an assortment of more than 600 different wines, some of which bottled in innovative styles of packaging. One example is Rebstöckle, a wine spritzer created by Badischer Winzerkel-ler that is distributed in 0.-liter one-way PET bottles. The main requirements made of the new system included supplying a vacuum-less filling system and capabilities for processing an extensive range of bottle types coupled with assurance of maximum filling quality in conjunc-tion with facilities for flexible reacconjunc-tion to pos-sible new developments. The resulting heart of the line, a new 80-station KHS Innofill® NRF-OFE balanced-pressure filling system capable of filling 20,000 bottles per hour is the largest KHS

balanced-pressure filling system in operation in the German wine trade. Using the bottom-up method of filling with long filling tubes, the KHS Innofill®_{NRF-OFE fills wine in bottles in a} gen-tlest possible way thus enabling filling in practi-cal operation for the first time without any loss of quality and flavor but with a minimum of oxy-gen pickup. Numerous concealed and open tastings corroborated the quality lead provided by the new filling system. With the new rinser-filler-capper block, the Badischer Winzerkeller is already well prepared today for production innovations of tomorrow. Other individually designed bottle shapes or bottling in PET later is no problem for the KHS solution that can handle everything. With KHS, Badischer Winzerkeller has the right partner at its side for the future to also retain the outstanding product quality even of select wines. Even now, the joint quality phi-losophy is bearing rich fruit.

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A MASTERPIEcE FOR JÄGERMEISTER:

KHS FILLING AND PACKING TECHNOLOGY

Jägermeister, the world‘s most famous German spirit, began its international rise to fame as early as the 1960s and has always placed par-ticular emphasis on quality and its brand iden-tity, which is identical in all regions worldwide. With KHS, Jägermeister has found a competent partner in filling and packaging technology. In line with the motto strength to strength suc-cess to sucsuc-cess, Jägermeister‘s most recent German bottling location went into operation in Linden. Jägermeister consistently meets the increasing demand for it products by installing one of the world‘s highest-performance spirits lines for format bottles. Today, a KHS line with a capacity of 20,000 bottles per hour is in ope-ration at the Linden plant where six different styles of Jägermeister bottle are currently being processed ranging in size from 0.3 to 1 liter. Because of its high flexibility, the system is also equipped to handle other types and sizes of bottle in the future. Painted in rich Jägermeister orange and herbal liqueur green, the entire line presents visible highlight suitable for the brand. From a technical standpoint, the Jägermeister

line is compelling over the entire spectrum: ranging from the gentle depalletizing process to the modular dry area concept, perfect row removal, the variable rinse program provided by an electronically controlled double-channel rinser, up to the completely servo-driven rinser-filler-capper-labeler block. With this line, KHS offers a filling process predestined for high-quality spirits. The fill level principle of filling by means of a computer-controlled, 80-station KHS Innofill®_{NRF-OFE filling system equipped} with long filling tubes ensures exact fill levels and gentle-to-product filling without any loss of flavor and alcohol. The subsequent labeling process guarantees the optimum brand appea-rance of this high-quality spirit at the point of sale and ensures that Jägermeister is well pre-pared for continued perfectly designed success. Prerequisite for this is plant equipment that meets maximum demands and complies fully with Mast-Jägermeister‘s quality philosophy.

”With Jägermeister we are providing a premium spirit based on a concept,

which only allows high-quality technical solutions to be used for bottling and packing. We made our decision in favor of KHS based on the impressive technical solutions offered.“ Dirk Löding, Manager of Production and Merchandise Management at Mast-Jägermeister AG

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IT‘S THE MIX THAT DOES IT:

FRUIT BRANDY PRODUCER BIMMERLE RELIES ON KNOW-HOW, HIGH-TECH, AND TRADITION

”Select products need not necessarily be expen-sive“ – this is the company philosophy of the northern Black Forest-based noble fruit brandy distiller Bimmerle KG, producer of Germany‘s and Europe‘s No. 1 brand of fruit brandy. With sales totaling 21 million bottles, the success of Bimmerle noble brandies therefore runs against the general trend. Fifty percent of production is distributed as brand name products to food retailers and the other fifty percent as generic brands to the discount sector. Bimmerle‘s wide range of Lörch brand products is oriented entirely to customer demands as reflected in the broad variety of different bottle sizes and shapes. Whether 0.04-liter or 1-liter size – everything is possible. What counts is above all the quality of the noble brandies and the appearance of the bottles and packaging. Quality was therefore clearly the most impor-tant aspect when it came to deciding on a new packaging line. A reliable technical solution, which was solid and rugged, and at the same time was equipped with the cutting-edge

com-ponents, was implemented jointly with KHS. Further advantages include outstanding quality of workmanship, great ease of operation, good accessibility, and fast service. Today, a dry sec-tion solusec-tion is in operasec-tion at Bimmerle that incorporates the latest in technical components, and is distinguished by an individual design. The 12,000 bottle-per-hour capacity line processes nineteen different types of bottle. Whether round, rectangular, or octagonal – the versatile machinery is equipped for all conceivable bottle styles. KHS performance with regard to service was also convincing for Bimmerle. After the line was commissioned, an efficient service team either arrived quickly on site or provided rapid assistance by means of Remote Diagnostic Ser-vice mobile (KHS ReDiS®_{mobile). All in all, the} cooperation between Bimmerle and KHS is a win-win situation right down the line that has opened the way for further growth in the inter-national fruit brandy market.

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FROM THE MAcHINE TO THE SOLUTION:

FROM SERVICE TO PARTNERSHIP

Economy and productivity over the entire life cycle

KHS has many years of experience with design, construction, and manufacture of filling and packing systems and knows what counts. In addition to modern machine equipment, suffi-cient buffer zones are planned, for instance, to ensure trouble-free production coupled with maximum efficiency in the long term. Our job does not end with commissioning, however. Our competence centers and service offices around the globe are the first point of contact for our customers. A consistently well-planned and simulated detailed solution approach is pur-sued in the pre-sale area in particular to elimi-nate any interface problems right from the start and ensure perfect integration into existing intralogistics.

Innovations are then implemented by KHS in the subsequent development and construction phase. The result is highly efficient machines and systems offering a future-proof investment and high flexibility based on end-to-end service.

In good hands worldwide: The KHS after-sale program

KHS is your competent service provider and partner wherever in the world you are, with competent support from system planning to commissioning and including support on micro-biological issues.

Maximum performance can be learned: KHS training

All KHS systems have been designed and are able to achieve high availability and excellent efficiency, provided operating and maintenance personnel know how to handle the machines properly. The KHS Training Center offers inten-sive, practice-oriented training courses for your employees – either at our factory-based training facilities or directly at your site.

Boundless service

The great demand for KHS plant equipment is not based on our outstanding machine concept alone but our excellent service performance as well. This service begins with optimum system

design and includes immediate assistance to clarify any questions that arise. More than 60 KHS service locations outstandingly ensure local presence worldwide and on special request, KHS also offers direct assistance online. A service tool – Remote Diagnostic Service mobile (KHS ReDiS®_{mobile) – is provided for this} purpose that is able to immediately analyze machine components around the globe from KHS headquarters. This shortens downtime, increases machine availability, and thus impro-ves the productivity of your line.

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EVERY PREMIUM BEVERAGE

IS BACKED BY THE RIGHT SYSTEM SOLUTION

With KHS, you are well prepared for all future trends in the wine, champagne, and spirits markets.

Talk to us about future trends and your individual plans for future markets. We will be glad to give you sound advice.

30 1 99 2-01 -1 91 /2 3 0 4 07 O G KHS AG Juchostraße 20 D-44143 Dortmund Wine/Champagne/Spirits Division Phone: +49 (671) 852-2380 Fax: +49 (671) 852-2217 E-mail: ws@khs.com