A review of ProPak Asia 2022

After the Covid-19 hiatus, our team in Thailand was excited for the first in-person trade show in more than two years. At long last, ProPak Asia took place in Bangkok, Thailand, in mid-June. My colleague Arisa Apichattanakul from Krones Thailand has summarized the trade show activities for you:

Over the course of four days, visitors got updates on Krones’ technologies, shared insights, grew their networks, and talked about future business. Regis Herve, Head of Sales for the Southeast Asia region, summarizes the show in one sentence: “For Krones, this event was not only a great opportunity to meet and connect with various industry players, but also a great time to share insights and personally discuss exciting developments with our customers.”

At this year’s ProPak, Krones showcased its expertise in complete line solutions and Lifecycle Service for the food and beverage industry. Placing a special focus on high-performance equipment on the one hand and service on the other, we also revealed an innovative concept for revolutionizing stock-keeping capacities using 3D printing.

Highlights for the industry

Regis Herve

Krones introduced its new warehousing concept, which is unique in Asia: Thanks Rapid Parts on Demand, which uses 3D printing technology, Krones customers are able to produce emergency parts on demand directly on site, where they are needed.
At this year’s ProPak Asia, visitors at the Krones booth got to experience first-hand how Rapid Parts on Demand works. “Broken parts cause production downtimes. But they can be replaced within just a few hours thanks to 3D printing of new parts using data ordered through the Krones.shop. With Krones customized 3D-printed parts and a filament portfolio from KIC Krones, we’re embarking on another innovative path to further minimize production downtimes and part stock”, says Cornelia Kochan, our expert at Krones Thailand for this topic. Many visitors came to her specifically because they had read an article about it in the ProPak show daily newsletter and were keen to learn more about this technology. It’s helpful to know that, besides investing in their own 3D printer, customers can also order 3D-printed spare parts from Krones Thailand – and get them shipped to their location as soon as the parts are ready.

Cornelia Kochan

Visitors to the Krones booth came not only from Thailand but also from other countries in Southeast Asia and the Pacific region.
Thanks to Rapid Parts on Demand, which uses 3D printing technology, Krones customers are able to produce emergency parts on demand directly on site, where they are needed.

Another highlight at the Krones booth was the Contiflow mixer. Standing right in front of the entrance hall, the Contiflow was an impressive sight for visitors. This all-rounder for mixing ready-to-drink beverages is specialized in soft drinks (still and carbonated), carbonated fruit-juice-based beverages, cider, and sparkling wine. It is a perfect solution for anyone who is looking for flexible technology, since its performance can be adjusted from 33 to 100 percent of the rated output. “There were unscheduled drop-in visits from people who just walked by the booth and were curious and eager to discuss how the Contiflow can bring value. Many of them were surprised how flexible the system is”, said Robert Ruh, Sales Manager at Krones Thailand.

*The Contiflow mixer was an impressive sight for visitors*

Robert Ruh

As visitors walked through the Krones booth, they also could not miss a small tea extractor model displayed on an attractive platform in a corner of the booth that was specifically set up for producers of coffee, tea and other beverages. There, they had an opportunity to connect with our processing technology expert for the Asia-Pacific region, Krones Izumi Processing.

*At ProPak Asia, Krones also presented topics from the LCS field like consumables from KIC Krones.*

Moreover, we also presented an overview of our consumables and Lifecycle Service portfolios, including the Krones.shop, our Krones Academy , packaging development consulting services, and remote service with the help of augmented reality. This upgraded real-time remote support has proven especially useful during the pandemic.

Behind the scenes

Safety as a top priority

One of the persons responsible for planning and organizing the whole show was our colleague Rata Dulyapat, who explains the balance which had to be struck: “The first priority for us was, of course, safety and social distancing. But at the same time, we had to provide an exhibit that was interesting and inspiring for our visitors. Returning to ProPak under the ‘new normal’, we had to adapt to the new health protocols and hygiene measures, in full awareness that trade shows will not be the same as we have organized them in the past.”

The preparation began with countless emails, phone calls, and MS Teams meetings. Two weeks before the event, it was especially hectic. And when the three days of booth construction started, we could finally watch as Krones and the booth builder brought to life what we had been planning on our laptop screens for months. Given the tight timeframe in which the machines and exhibits had to be set up, the support of many colleagues was much needed and highly appreciated.

Rata Dulyapat

New booth concept

When the show finally began, Krones’ new booth concept, which features hexagons as dominant design elements, made its Asian debut. The design was created exclusively for Krones and incorporates LED walls, light boxes, and a sleek meeting area with a rock-like graphic on the floor. The result is a modern, stylish appearance and a generally harmonious atmosphere.

A huge success

ProPak Asia 2022 was a great success: Overall, the event itself was abuzz with 38,000 trade visitors from 49 countries. Rata Dulyapat sums it up: “After two years, we returned to an event we had all missed, and everyone emphasized how good it was to finally be back in-person. It was also lovely to see the smiles even from behind face masks.”

After two years, we returned to an event we had all missed, and everyone emphasized how good it was to finally be back in-person. It was also lovely to see the smiles even from behind face masks. Erwin Hächl Rata DulyapatCorporate Communication Krones Thailand

There clearly was a strong commitment on the part of all colleagues from Sales, Marketing, and the Product Lines – and we achieved what we set out to: For four days, ProPak provided a showcase for our brand. It attracted visitors, gave the opportunity for business discussions and networking – and was a place to start new partnerships. Markus Winter, CEO of Krones Thailand, explains: “We wanted to take this great opportunity to meet our customers, to discuss about their future in the industry and also to introduce the solutions we have developed.” ProPak Asia has a tradition of more than 20 years – and we certainly look forward to the next one.

We wanted to take this great opportunity to meet our customers, to discuss about their future in the industry and also to introduce the solutions we have developed. Erwin Hächl Markus WinterCEO of Krones Thailand