It’s been about 20 years since Krones added the Sleevematic sleeve applicator to its portfolio – and now the company is celebrating a very special milestone: the 1,000th Sleevematic is currently being assembled at Krones’ Neutraubling plant. It is slated to be brought online at the Italian beverage maker Acqua Sant’Anna in fall 2025.
The Sleevematic is now in its fourth generation, and its continuous development over the years is evident, particularly in terms of performance and efficiency. The Sleevematic TS model, which can be dimensioned for up to 50,000 containers per hour, is the fastest inline sleeve applicator on the market. This unparallelled speed is made possible by a rotating perforation unit, which forms the heart of the Sleevematic. As the name suggests, the unit perforates the sleeve in a continuous process instead of in intermittent motion. All without compromising the quality of the sleeve. Another benefit is the machine’s exceptional flexibility: During change-overs, the cutters can be set to the new container size automatically – saving time and handling parts. Spare parts needs are also reduced thanks to the impressive longevity of the cutters: one set can make 70 million cuts before wearing out. Conventional cutting units can do only a tenth as much before needing to be replaced.
But sustainability is not only about the machine itself but also the materials it consumes. Besides standard labels made from PET-G, the Sleevematic can also handle newer sleeves made of polyolefin and crystalline PET plastics, which are ideally suited for recycling. Retrofitting the machine for increased sustainability really only takes a few small changes – which Krones has already implemented successfully for a number of customers.
This milestone machine is bound for Italy
The Sleevematic can also be fitted with additional options, such as the Multireel S magazine for label reels, a Shrinkmat steam tunnel and Checkmat systems with a variety of inspection units.
The classic configuration of the Sleevematic is as a stand-alone machine within a line, though it can also be integrated into a block solution. And this latter option is what Acqua Sant’Anna chose. Since its foundation in 1996, the company became a leading brand in the Italian mineral water market and it focuses on cutting-edge technology and continuous innovation in its production. For Acqua Sant’Anna, Krones combined the sleeve labeller with a single machine carrousel containing both a Contiroll station and an Autocol station, to handle hot glue wrap-around labels and pressure-sensitive labels, respectively. And so, it provides the utmost flexibility to handle any use case. The labelling block will be integrated into a new aseptic line.
“We really have been thinking about integrating a sleeve labeller for some time. This new 36,000-bph line was the perfect opportunity to try it out on various container types and sizes. After all, labels are a highly effective means for us to communicate with our customers – and now between wrap-around labels, pressure-sensitive labels and sleeves, we’ve got plenty of options for that,” explains Marco Balbiano, plant manager and chief information officer at Acqua Sant’Anna.