Krones
Krones AG is a German global systems supplier of complete beverage and liquid food production technology, offering process equipment, filling and packaging lines, intralogistics, recycling, and AI-powered digital services to large enterprise manufacturers in over 60 countries.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1951
- HeadquartersNeutraubling, Germany
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Krones does
Krones AG is a German publicly traded industrial machinery manufacturer (MDAX-listed, ticker KRNTY OTC in the US) founded in 1951 and headquartered in Neutraubling, Germany. The company is a global systems supplier for beverage and liquid food production, offering complete turnkey solutions spanning process technology (brewing systems, water factories, soft drink lines, dairy plants, biotechnology processing), filling and packaging machinery (PET, glass, cans), intralogistics (System Logistics), plastics recycling (MetaPure), lifecycle service, and digital services (Krones Ecosystem with AI-powered digital twins). Its core technology combines mechanical engineering with AI, robotics, and Industry 4.0 solutions, including the Ingeniq line concept, agentic digital twins developed with Microsoft, and proprietary brands such as Steinecker, Evoguard, Netstal, Kosme, Gernep, and Ampco Pumps.
Krones generates revenue primarily through direct enterprise sales of capital equipment and complete production lines to large beverage and food manufacturers globally, supplemented by recurring lifecycle service revenue from spare parts (KIC Krones), maintenance, modular service agreements, training, and digital service subscriptions. Pricing is project-specific and not publicly disclosed, with multi-year contracts typical for complete production line sales. The company sells through regional subsidiaries in over 60 countries and participates in approximately 100 trade fairs annually (drinktec, interpack, Hannover Messe) as a primary marketing channel. Customer segments are split between beverage manufacturers (breweries, water, soft drinks, juice, dairy, spirits) as the primary vertical and food producers (dairy, plant-based beverages, biotechnology) as the secondary vertical, with PET packaging solutions spanning both segments. FY2025 revenue reached €5,663.8 million with 7.0% growth, supported by an order backlog exceeding €4 billion.
Krones firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Krones
- Legal name
- Krones AG
- Website
- https://krones.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1951
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Krones AG is a German global systems supplier of complete beverage and liquid food production technology, offering process equipment, filling and packaging lines, intralogistics, recycling, and AI-powered digital services to large enterprise manufacturers in over 60 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Krones is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Neutraubling
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Krones business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Capital Equipment Sales: Krones generates primary revenue from manufacturing and selling complete production lines and individual machines for beverage and food production including process technology equipment, filling machines, packaging lines, PET containers, stretch blow moulders, labellers, and recycling equipment. Revenue of €5,663.8 million in 2025, growing 7.0%.
- Lifecycle Service and Aftermarket: Krones generates revenue from lifecycle service including maintenance, spare parts, training, modular service agreements, and upgrades. The company offers comprehensive service throughout the equipment lifecycle.
- Complete Turnkey Solutions: Krones designs and implements complete turnkey factories covering every process step from product and container production through filling and packaging to material flow and recycling.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Complete production lines and turnkey factory solutions |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Krones product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Krones designs, manufactures and integrates complete systems for beverage and liquid food production, including process technology (brewing, water, soft drinks, juice, dairy, biotechnology), filling and packaging machines for PET, glass and cans, intralogistics, plastics recycling modules (MetaPure), and a digital services platform (Krones Ecosystem). The company sells capital equipment, turnkey factories and lifecycle services directly to beverage and food manufacturers worldwide, with recently launched AI-driven line concepts such as Ingeniq and Robobox SynFlow.
Product overview
Krones is a global systems supplier for beverage and liquid food production, offering an integrated portfolio combining process technology, filling and packaging machinery, intralogistics, plastics recycling, lifecycle service, and digital services. The core platform includes complete production lines spanning from process engineering (brewing systems, water factories, soft drink lines) through filling and packaging (PET, glass, cans) to digital solutions (Krones Ecosystem with AI-powered digital twins). Key product families include: Process Technology for beverage preparation; Filling and Packaging Lines and Single Machines (stretch blow moulders, filling technology, inspection, labellers, packaging, palletising); Krones Ecosystem digital platform; Lifecycle Service for long-term support; and Plastics Recycling (MetaPure) for closed-loop solutions. The brand portfolio includes acquired and specialized brands: Steinecker (brewing), Evoguard (valves), Ampco Pumps (sanitary pumps), HST (homogenizers), Milkron (liquid food), Kosme and Gernep (labelling/packaging), Konplan (project planning), R+D Custom Automation (automation), and regional processing brands. The recently launched Ingeniq line concept represents a fully automated, AI-driven approach to beverage production.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Steinecker: Brewing systems and beer processing technology subsidiary
- Evoguard
- Ampco Pumps
- Ingeniq
- MetaPure
- KIC Krones
- Kosme
- Gernep
- Netstal
- System Logistics
- Syskron
- EquiTherm Coldfill
- Variopac Pro
- Dynafill Bloc
- Brewnomic
Products and services
- Ingeniq line concept A fully automated, data-driven beverage production line concept combining Krones machinery, robotics and AI into a harmonized system, with Connect and Secure digital visibility and Lifecycle Alliance performance guarantees.
- Process Technology lines Process engineering solutions covering each step from product preparation to processing for beer, water, soft drinks, juice, dairy, plant-based drinks, spirits and biotechnology, designed for beverage and liquid food manufacturers.
- Filling and Packaging Lines Complete lines for filling PET containers, glass bottles and cans, including aseptic systems and block-synchronised systems sold to beverage and food manufacturers.
- Single Machines Individual machines for beverage and packaging lines including injection moulding technology, stretch blow moulders, bottle washing machines, filling technology, inspection technology, labellers, conveyors, product treatment, packaging technology and palletising technology.
- Intralogistics Material flow and logistics solutions for handling containers and packages inside beverage production facilities, including automated picking and order fulfillment.
- Plastics Recycling (MetaPure) Washing modules and recycling solutions including the MetaPure product line for PET and other plastics, enabling closed-loop recycling systems used by beverage producers.
- Lifecycle Service Service solutions including Modular Service Agreements, Academy training and support services to reduce operating costs and ensure long-term efficient production across the equipment lifecycle.
- Krones Ecosystem digital platform Digital platform providing connected solutions for minimising downtimes, reducing waste, planning maintenance, optimising production, managing change-overs, reducing consumption and material management across beverage production lines.
- Robobox SynFlow Modular robotics system for container distribution upstream of the packer, designed to deliver precision, gentle container handling and reduced line footprint for beverage packaging lines.
- Variopac Pro packer with shrink tunnel Packaging machine featuring a new shrink tunnel that reduces energy consumption by at least 20% while improving shrink-wrap quality for beverage and food packers.
- Steinecker brewing systems Sub-brand offering complete solutions for beer production including the Brewnomic concept for energy-independent and carbon-neutral brewing, sold as standalone brewing systems to breweries.
- Evoguard process technology valves and fittings Process equipment for valves and fittings serving beverage, dairy, food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries with aseptic and hygienic solutions.
- Ampco Pumps sanitary pumps U.S. sanitary pump brand acquired in April 2023, providing centrifugal, lobe rotor, progressing cavity and specialized pumps for the processing technology portfolio.
- HST high-pressure homogenizers High-pressure homogenizers for liquid food, beverage, dairy and pharmaceutical applications, sold as specialized processing equipment.
Quantifiable outcome
- Simulation time reduced by 95% from 4 hours to under 5 minutes using agentic digital twins
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Krones
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Krones technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability9 records
Feature6 records
Krones partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- RFK GroupmajorKrones partnered with Brazilian RFK Group to build an automated factory in São José dos Pinhais with capacity of 1.2 billion liters annually, utilizing AI and automation technologies targeting R$2 billion in revenue by 2030.
- MicrosoftcoreKrones partnered with Microsoft to develop AI-powered agentic digital twins for beverage production optimization. The company showcased AI-powered digital twins that reduced simulation times by 95% at Hannover Messe 2026 and won the Microsoft Intelligent Manufacturing Award 2026.
- Bachmann Group (with Sesotec, Starlinger Viscotec, PET-MAN)minorKrones participated in the PAC2PAC project with Bachmann Group and other partners to create a closed-loop recycling system for PET packaging in Switzerland using AI-based sorting technology.
- DS SmithmajorKrones partnered with DS Smith to develop sustainable paper-based packaging for Coca-Cola HBC Austria, replacing plastic shrink wrap with recyclable corrugated paper handles, removing approximately 200 tonnes of plastic annually.
- Ansys (with CADFEM)coreKrones collaborated with Ansys and CADFEM to develop high-fidelity AI-powered digital twins that reduced simulation times from 3-4 hours to approximately 30 minutes for beverage production optimization.
- SynopsyscoreSynopsys and Krones unveiled a simulation-driven framework for optimizing manufacturing processes with digital twins, significantly reducing simulation time from hours to minutes and enhancing collaboration and efficiency.
- SoftServemajorSoftServe collaborated with Krones on digital twins projects, achieving a 15% reduction in unplanned downtime and demonstrating the effectiveness of simulation-driven manufacturing optimization.
- NVIDIAcoreNVIDIA partnered with Krones to enable AI-powered digital twin technology for beverage production, providing GPU acceleration that enables simulation speeds from hours to minutes.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Krones competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- GEA Group: German-listed global supplier of process technology and components for the food, beverage, and dairy industries, including separators, homogenizers, and complete processing lines. GEA is one of the two other Tier-1 players named alongside Krones in the ~27% combined global beverage processing equipment market share, making it the most direct competitor.
- KHS GmbH: German manufacturer of filling and packaging systems for the beverage, food, and non-food sectors, including stretch blow moulders, labellers, and complete lines. KHS is one of the closest direct competitors to Krones in mid- to high-speed beverage filling and packaging machinery, particularly for glass, PET, and cans.
- Sidel: PET-focused beverage packaging solutions provider owned by Tetra Laval, offering stretch blow moulding, filling, and end-of-line equipment. Sidel competes directly with Krones in PET bottling lines, aseptic filling, and complete beverage plant projects globally.
- Syntegon Technology: German packaging and processing technology provider (formerly Bosch Packaging Technology) serving food, beverage, pharma, and confectionery with filling, processing, and packaging lines. Syntegon competes with Krones particularly in liquid food processing, aseptic filling, and complete line integration.
- SIG Group: Swiss-listed provider of aseptic carton packaging and filling systems for beverages and liquid food. SIG competes with Krones in aseptic filling and complete line solutions, particularly for liquid dairy, juice, and plant-based beverage producers.
- ProMach: US-based packaging machinery solutions provider offering filling, capping, labelling, and end-of-line systems for beverage, food, and consumer goods manufacturers. ProMach competes with Krones in North American bottling and packaging line integration projects.
Broad incumbents
- Tetra Laval / Tetra Pak: Private Swiss-based food packaging and processing giant operating across cartons, processing equipment, and services through the Tetra Pak and Sidel brands. Competes directly with Krones via Sidel in PET and aseptic filling, while Tetra Pak offers a broader CPG packaging portfolio that overlaps with Krones' beverage processing business.
- Bucher Industries: Swiss-listed industrial group with divisions in specialty agricultural equipment, food and beverage processing (Bucher Unipektin, Bucher Denwel), and glass forming. Overlaps with Krones in food and beverage process technology and shares a similar European industrial OEM profile.
- ANDRITZ AG: Austrian-listed global supplier of plants, equipment, and services for hydropower, pulp & paper, metal processing, and separation technology. ANDRITZ competes with Krones in process technology and separation/homogenization for liquid food and beverage applications, while operating across a much broader industrial portfolio.
- Barry-Wehmiller Group: US-based global supplier of packaging, paper converting, and tissue machinery through brands like BW Packaging, BW Flexible Systems, and BW Integrated Systems. Barry-Wehmiller competes with Krones in filling, packaging, and end-of-line equipment for beverage and consumer goods customers, particularly in the Americas.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Krones social profiles
Digital presenceKrones financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Krones leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Krones subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries19 records
Krones funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Krones M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A14 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Krones
What does Krones do?
Krones designs, manufactures and integrates complete systems for beverage and liquid food production, including process technology (brewing, water, soft drinks, juice, dairy, biotechnology), filling and packaging machines for PET, glass and cans, intralogistics, plastics recycling modules (MetaPure), and a digital services platform (Krones Ecosystem). The company sells capital equipment, turnkey factories and lifecycle services directly to beverage and food manufacturers worldwide, with recently launched AI-driven line concepts such as Ingeniq and Robobox SynFlow.
Is Krones a public or private company?
Krones is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Krones founded?
Krones was founded in 1951. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Krones based?
Krones is headquartered in Neutraubling, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Krones make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Capital Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are lifecycle Service and Aftermarket and complete Turnkey Solutions.
Who are Krones's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are GEA Group, KHS GmbH, Sidel, Syntegon Technology, SIG Group and ProMach. Broad incumbents are Tetra Laval / Tetra Pak, Bucher Industries, ANDRITZ AG and Barry-Wehmiller Group.
Does Krones have an API?
No public API is recorded for Krones.