Food & Beverage Asia June/July 2020

44
PROCESSING AND PACKAGING
renders communication with Krones
extremely simple, of course. And when
we then happen to need a specialist, he
gets here almost straight away. Spare
parts availability is very good too. Even
if a particular part isn’t in stock, Krones
immediately does everything possible to
solve the problem – something we very
much appreciate.”
Krones took on the challenge and
overcame it. After the processtechnology
zone had been relocated
to another part of the hall, and the
conveyor routing of existing lines had
been altered, Krones ingressed the new
kit through the opened roof of the hall
– and it fitted into the space available.
In order to remain flexible in terms of container dress, a Contiroll for
wrap-around labels and a Sleevematic for sleeves have been integrated
“The support we get from Krones is
brilliant,” Kröpfel claimed. “For new
machines and the after-sales service,
we only have a single contact person in
each case – this streamlined interfacing
The third criterion for choosing the
new kit was the well-thought-out line
layout, as he continued, “The place
where the dry-aseptic line now stands
used to accommodate our mixers and
product tanks. To be honest, at first
I couldn’t imagine that we would be
accommodating an entire line in such a
small space.”
Even though the space in the existing
hall is now totally exhausted, the
premises still provide options for
expansion projects, which were urgently
needed. Holzinger added, “The next
thing we have to do is upsize our canning
capacities, and after that we need a
larger high-bay warehouse.”
Scheduled maintenance once a year
For reliable operation of the lines,
prudently preventive maintenance is
particularly important, Kröpfel stressed.
So back when the first aseptic line began
operation, Spitz signed a maintenance
agreement with Krones Lifecycle Service.
“We carry out planning, inspection and
overhaul jointly, so as to continually
deepen the knowledge of our own
team,” he added. For this purpose, Spitz
schedules a two-week maintenance
routine once a year.
In the first week, to coincide with an
inspection, an aseptic check routine
is performed, in which the aseptic
production operation and the hygienic
condition of the aseptic line are
assessed. This includes, for instance,
checking the process parameters
and evaluating the aseptic process
with the aid of appropriate diagrams
and error messages. In addition,
Krones’ validation engineers also take
samples of all relevant components and
media that are important for aseptic
production operations. As a result of
the long years of collaboration, and
the knowledge transfer thus achieved,
the aseptic check is performed by Spitz
autonomously.
The second phase subsumes the
overhaul, with subsequent requalification
and a sterility test. This is designed to
ensure aseptic production and product
safety after the overhaul. For instance,
the process programmes are checked,
and basic functions plus the line’s
hygiene status are assessed, while
another sampling routine is conducted,
and possible findings or questions
arising since the last aseptic check are
discussed with the laboratory personnel.
Throughout this time, a team of Spitz
employees are involved,
who continually receive
extra training from the
Krones team, enabling
them, for example, to carry
out minor maintenance
jobs themselves during the
rest of the year.
The subsequent sterility
test is likewise conducted
by the in-house laboratory.
Finally, Spitz then receives
a detailed report on the line’s hygienic
and overall aseptic status.
Kröpfel concluded, “It’s a huge
advantage for us to have a permanent
maintenance advisor from Krones.
Because he’s familiar not only with
Krones’ technology, but meanwhile with
us and our staff as well. This makes the
work significantly easier.
“But even outside the two-week
inspection and overhaul phase, he’s the
paramount interface for us at Krones,
the one we contact when we need new
spare parts, for example, or are starting
operation with a new format.” FBA
Spitz carries out a two-week maintenance routine yearly under
the Krones Lifecycle Service
FOOD & BEVERAGE ASIA JUNE / JULY 2020