Energy costs practically halved: KHS converts stretch blow molder for Mineralbrunnen Teinach GmbH
Overheads for materials and the price of energy are among the biggest cost drivers in production. Mineral water bottlers Teinach GmbH have thus charged the KHS Group with the modernization of their PET bottle filling line. In the course of the process the systems supplier greatly improved the level of energy efficiency by optimizing the heater boxes on the PET stretch blow molder in particular.
Non-alcoholic beverages in the Teinacher and Hirschquelle brand portfolio are the chief products for the company from the north of the Black Forest which belongs to Mineralbrunnen Überkingen-Teinach KGaA. At its plant in Bad Teinach, just under an hour’s drive west from Stuttgart, the mineral water bottler achieves an output of about 150 million bottles of water and soda pop per annum, a third of which are made of PET. Preform heating consumes a lot of energy and is thus a relevant factor when it comes to the operating costs incurred during the manufacture of PET bottles. One of Michael Schanz’s main tasks, head of Engineering at Mineralbrunnen Teinach GmbH, is thus to constantly monitor the energy efficiency of the lines. He was therefore immediately enthusiastic about the new possible savings offered by KHS’ InnoPET machines. KHS analyzed the savings potential of the reliable InnoPET Blomax Series III together with the engineers from the mineral water company. The stretch blow molder in Teinach has been in operation since 2007. “Over the last nine years the machine has given us wonderful service. KHS then showed us that with little effort we could improve further on our levels of energy efficiency”, Schanz explains. After a maximum of two days the machine would again be ready for operation, yielding savings of up to 50%. “After we’d discussed the details, it only took a few weeks before conversion started”. This was possible as KHS was able to make use of a tested development from its energy-saving solutions product module.