drinktec exhibitor preview: part 2

Enjoy part 2 of our exclusive preview of what to expect from some of the exhibiting companies at this year’s drinktec edition, taking place from 15 to 19 September 2025.

Leibinger – Stand C2-328

Image: Leibinger

The challenges facing the beverage industry are growing. Competitive pressures, traceability and new coding and marking standards are calling for ingenious, carefully thought-out solutions. The GS1 Sunrise initiative is putting the spotlight on 2D codes, which will carry significantly more information than conventional barcodes. The updated standards aim to ensure that by the end of 2027, 2D codes can be used alongside conventional 1D barcodes (such as EAN/UPC) at retail points of sale worldwide.Those who make the switch early will be in the best position to secure their processes and reap efficiency benefits.

At drinktec 2025, Leibinger will be demonstrating how this transition can be successfully implemented on all common packaging materials and under real production conditions.

The company’s system portfolio is successfully meeting the industry’s expectations – and can reliably mark glass, aluminium, plastics, cardboard and stainless steel. Even in high humidity, with frequent material changes and fast lines, Leibinger says its printers deliver accurate, stable results. Leading companies in the beverage industry are already using this technology, as are medium-sized bottlers for whom easy integration and economical operation are key.

Achieving a balance between adhesion and residue-free removal is decisive in reusable logistics.Traceability suffers if the ink does not adhere sufficiently. If it cannot be removed in its entirety, it interferes with the recycling process.This requirement is proving particularly critical for kegs. Special Leibinger inks are available to address this specific issue.The ink adheres to the keg for exactly as long as it should – throughout its entire service life in circulation.

As soon as the kegs are returned to the bottler and the reuse process begins, the markings can be removed effortlessly and without residue at precisely the right moment.

Integration into existing ERP, MES and EMS systems is guaranteed via the available API interface. A convenient plug-in is also available for integration with SAP. Central remote monitoring of the marking systems reduces the workload for operating personnel, ensures process transparency and increases production efficiency, says Leibinger.

The IQJET operates for five years without requiring any maintenance. With Leibinger’s sealing system, the print heads do not need to be cleaned before start-up. Cartridges can be changed during operation without interrupting printing.This all reduces costs while minimising downtime.Thanks to intelligent technology, the CIJ printer is one of the most economical systems on the market. It consumes 50% less solvent than conventional CIJ printers, requires less energy and is ready for use at any time. This saves time and supports companies who are seeking to consistently combine efficiency and sustainability.

In the lab at Leibinger’s headquarters inTuttlingen, Germany, customised formulations are developed to meet a wide range of requirements. Coloured ink variants round out the product portfolio. In-house ink development and production ensure outstanding flexibility, high quality and fast availability.

Visitors to Leibinger’s drinktec 2025 stand can look forward to a personalised giveaway and an opportunity to win a weekend experience for two at Europapark Rust. Find the hidden code on the website (which will be displayed during the trade fair), fill out the entry card at the stand and you’ll be entered into the prize draw.

Rockwell Automation – Stand C5-669

Image: Rockwell Automation/Sleeman Breweries

Ahead of its appearance at drinktec 2025, Rockwell Automation is highlighting a case study of its work on a virtualised process automation system with Canada-based Sleeman Breweries, which operates three brewing production facilities located in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia.

At its Okanagan Spring Brewery (OSB) in Vernon, British Columbia, the company was struggling to meet market demand for its OSB beers. The management team was looking for ways to increase output beyond the maximum of eight brews per day.

If unable to increase production capacity at OSB, the company could be faced with the need to build a new facility at a high capital investment cost, or reliance on third-party producers.

Both options would have strained their budget and not ideal for ensuring consistent quality and flavour, and meeting delivery deadlines.

Not only was the facility limited in its ability to increase production, the existing infrastructure was based on an antiquated, semi-automated control system. Changes to the brewing process – including adding new recipes – needed to be made manually, which increased the risk of human error or inconsistencies.

Throughout the production process, operators needed to be at the right place at the right time. If the operator was not on the line to move production forward, brewing would be on hold. These constraints limited Sleeman’s ability to respond quickly to changes in consumer taste or trends in the industry. The manual approach also hampered access to accurate and timely production metrics needed to fully control the brewing process.

Batch reporting was ad hoc and required operators to input numbers on paper, limiting real-time access to critical information such as pressure and flow rates.

The Sleeman team worked with McRae Integration, a Rockwell Automation recognised system integrator, to design and implement an integrated process automation system with the aim of increasing capacity, reducing risk and providing access to real-time production data.

The Sleeman team was hoping to standardise on one solution across its facilities. A single platform would enable executives to view production metrics and operations data for all facilities from the corporate location.

With one common platform, in-house mechanics and electricians also could more easily transition from one facility to another and keep parts storage streamlined.

McRae implemented a phased approach based on the PlantPAx distributed control system (DCS) from Rockwell Automation. The system includes reporting and historian software that collects, tracks and records key process data to pinpoint brew cycle trends, allowing operators to proactively make changes to brews as needed. The Rockwell Automation library of process objects provides predefined controller code and faceplates, and the new system helps Sleeman operators more quickly configure new batches and build recipes.

McRae customised the solution for brewing applications with its software solutions, which provide operators with complete control of the process through easily operated web interfaces. Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 525 and PowerFlex 755 drives from Rockwell Automation deliver flexible motor control in the brewing process and help communicate device diagnostics to the control system.

To complete the implementation, McRae worked with Sleeman’s IT team to install VMware virtualised servers. The Sleeman team had implemented redundant servers at its Vernon facility a few years earlier, but found the costs of the equipment and additional storage space difficult to maintain.

The VMware virtualised servers provided automatic redundancy for production data with enhanced data recovery and expanded data storage. One virtualised server can replace up to four physical backup servers, which greatly decreases the equipment hardware costs.

It also provides the Sleeman team with the ability to create copies of the virtualised servers to run simulations offline and test production changes before they are made.

Within two weeks of the implementation, Sleeman increased production at its Vernon facility by 50%, from eight brews to 12 brews per day.

The brewing team can now complete all brews on-site without using third-party producers. They have also avoided the cost of a new facility or significant equipment upgrades or additions.

Additionally, operators have gained more control over the brewing process. With web browser-based recipes, operators can more easily build a new recipe, create a test batch and store the recipe in the system for additional testing and production.

Brewing managers can simply make process and recipe changes via a web browser interface, without additional personnel.

Management can check on any production issues leveraging the PlantPAx system’s trending capabilities. With exception reporting, the system creates reports to track progress as the brews reach fermentation and emails management if any brew variables deviate.

The brewing team can take any corrective action needed and reduce downtime, rather than reworking and blending off the brew in small amounts later.

The software upgrades have kept the brew quality high while increasing production speed. The Vernon facility now has an industry-leading, two-hour brew cycle, with improved consistency in flavour and quality.

The Sleeman team also plan to implement the PlantPAx platform throughout the rest of the Vernon facility, including the tank farm and packaging lines. As the standardisation across all areas of Sleeman’s facilities expands, corporate visibility will improve, allowing the company to more effectively make decisions that will grow their business.

This transformation reflects a broader trend in the beverage industry, which Rockwell Automation will highlight at drinktec 2025. The company is set to unveil its vision for the Factory of the Future, where AI and machine learning reshape beverage manufacturing processes.

Thielmann – Stand C2-158

Image: Thielmann

Thielmann, a global leader in stainless steel container solutions, is set to showcase its Vertex keg at drinktec 2025.

Engineered from duplex stainless steel, the Vertex keg represents a major milestone in sustainable design and lightweighting, delivering unmatched performance and environmental benefits, according to the company.

The Vertex keg is up to 30% lighter and boasts up to 30% lower environmental impact compared to traditional stainless steel kegs. This achievement is the result of Thielmann R&D’s pioneering technique to mould and weld duplex stainless steel, a material previously considered too rigid to manipulate at this scale. Despite its reduced weight, the keg maintains the same mechanical strength and durability as conventional AISI stainless steel models.

Through its UV and corrosion resistance features, the Vertex also ensures beverages remain fresh and flavourful throughout the keg’s lifecycle, while meeting iron pick-up test standards comparable to traditional kegs.

“We are incredibly proud of our R&D team for achieving this breakthrough,” said Alberto Borque, chief operating officer at Thielmann. “The Vertex keg redefines industry standards, combining sustainability with the reliability brewers expect. It’s a game-changer for eco-conscious brewing.”

The Vertex keg is meticulously crafted to meet the diverse needs of the beverage sector, from beer and wine to kombucha or cocktails. According to Thielmann, its lightweight yet robust design, coupled with superior sustainability metrics and reduced nickel content, makes it the ultimate choice for brewers aiming for eco-friendly and efficient operations. The lower nickel content not only enhances sustainability but also mitigates price volatility in the global market.

Crealis Group – Stand C2-144 

Image: Crealis Group

At drinktec 2025, Crealis Group will be presenting the PediStrip, a cutting-edge closure combining elegance, convenience and safety. Featuring a pull-tab, Crealis’ PediStrip is a unique tamper-proof seal featuring a minimalist design particularly suited for single-serve containers or bottles of spirits, liquors, wine, juices and other still beverages.

Conceived for the hotel, restaurant and catering sector (HoReCa) and the on-trade market, PediStrip is also suited for single-dose usage in the pharmaceutical, food and cosmetics markets.

The components of the PediStrip include: a special aluminium alloy resistant to oxidation, excellent support for lithographic decorations, premarked rib and tear line of reduced strength to guarantee easy opening; a PVC-free virgin polyethylene foam disc liner, in compliance with the current international health and safety standards; and a tear-off strip made of non-woven fabric with a waterproof plastic matrix, which does not deteriorate when it comes into contact with liquids.

The PediStrip is available in two sizes.The 38mm diameter is an ideal alternative to traditional screw caps for the packaging of still waters, juices, wines and spirits.Thanks to the large printable surface provided by the 62mm diameter closure, there is no need for an additional label on the single-serve containers.

The PediStrip is applied by special capping heads that fit on standard capping machines (both manual and fully automatic).

It requires vertical load only and 120kg of pressure.