Carlsberg and systems provider KHS Group have revealed plans to work together more to “improve the quality of local beers” across China.
After partnering up to work on the installation of two beer canning lines in China, the companies have now unveiled a strategy involving a new streamlined layout and production design for canning. The intentions are for the new systems to be implemented across all of Carlsberg’s Chinese factories.
According to a recent statement detailing plans, both companies aim to “improve the quality of local beers in the long term” with “constant modernisation of existing plant equipment”.
KHS recently installed two canning lines at Carlsberg Dali Brewery and at Carlsberg Yibin Brewery – each solidifying the relationship between the two companies and their plight for better beer quality using more “streamlined” and ecologically-savvy kit.
“We’ve been working successfully with KHS for around 10 years on the Asian market and have developed further together. This continuity throughout a good number of projects has created a sense of trust between us and makes us feel that we’re all one big team,” said Paul Kime, asset and projects director at Carlsberg Asia.
Norman Gras, global key account manager at KHS, explained: “In setting up our own sales organisations and increasing our local service proficiency, we provide the regional expertise needed to independently maintain, install and commission our machinery with the help of local teams.”
Kime reminded: “KHS sets standards in the canning segment. The reject rate is under 1% and the level of efficiency is over 95% – and is even 100% in Yibin. These are fantastic figures.”
The heart of the line is the ultramodern can filler that processes up to 90,000 0.33-litre cans or a maximum of 60,000 0.5-litre cans per hour, ranging from local brands to Carlberg’s more popular global drinks products.
The concept also incorporates a pasteuriser and a packaging system comprising a shrink packer at each respective plant plus two wrap-around packers in Yibin and one in Dali. Plus, the new system also operates a non-lubricated canning line, which are purportedly helping Carlsberg in its endeavours to strive for greater sustainability by saving water.
“At both plants the beverage cans run dry on the belts, said Gras, adding: “The entire project was ideally executed and is an important role model for future canning line setups. We no longer merely have a simple supplier/customer relationship; our two companies have grown together. Our teams work together professionally hand-in-hand. This is the key to success.”