Krones awarded German packaging prize

The German Packaging Institute has awarded Krones the German Packaging Prize for the company’s microwave heating technology incorporated in stretch blow-moulding machines.

With the technology, named FlexWave, the process for producing PET containers in stretch blow-moulding machines has become significantly more sustainable, more energy economical, more flexible, faster and more versatile. The technology heats up PET preforms using microwaves, instead of using conventional methods of stretch blow-moulding.

The technology enables the heating process to be individually set and monitored for each PET preform. Multicoloured bottles can be produced as well, opening up new options for container design. In comparison to conventional infrared ovens, the microwave technology requires up to 50% less energy and has shorter production times as the heat-up phase takes about three seconds, up to 80% shorter than other systems.