09,05,2026 7 views
FocusWater, a product under the Swiss Rivella Group, is a lightweight, vitamin rich soft drink. The company has chosen the Krones sterile production line to ensure the production of this product. More and more consumers are paying attention to a balanced diet and choosing sugar free or low calorie beverages. Dr. Martina Pfeiffer, Head of Supply Chain at Rivella Group, said, 'This is exactly where FocusWater comes in.'. ”This vitamin rich bottled water not only offers low calorie and sugar free options, but its refreshing taste also attracts young and energetic target consumers. Since 2019, the Rivella Group has been promoting this new brand, with its main market being Switzerland, as well as sales in France and Luxembourg. The success of FocusWater proves that Rivella Group's decision was correct: the annual growth rate of this product reached double digits.
Aseptic production line: Efficient and reliable FocusWater is a beverage that does not require preservatives but requires long-term preservation. For Rivella Group, the demand was clear from the beginning: if FocusWater wants to maintain its high quality, sterile filling is its only option. Previously, FocusWater had been producing on a filling line with a 20-year history. Although the old line still operated stably and reliably, Martina Pfeiffer said, "As this new brand grows and expands, we need a more modern and efficient solution." In the end, they chose a new Krones production line equipped with a compact Contipure AseptBloc combination machine - a modern solution suitable for small and medium-sized production capacity. Its uniqueness lies in the integration of blowing, filling, and capping all into a sterile process. The partnership with Krones has stood the test of time. As early as 2015, Rivella Group had already put into use a PET filling line equipped with a blow molding machine. Krones has a branch in Switzerland that can provide technical support on-site at any time. As Martina Pfeiffer emphasized, 'This makes us feel at ease.' Being closer means faster service, which in turn means higher reliability for daily production.
In addition to reliability and the close proximity between the two companies, achieving reliable performance in a limited space is another important factor for the Rivella Group: providing a perfect solution that adapts to the on-site space conditions. Due to the limited area of the production workshop, new equipment not only needs to have high performance, but also must adopt a compact design. This is precisely where Contipure AseptBloc leverages its advantages, as it requires very little space. The smaller filling machine and optimized machine design save space while ensuring stable performance. Compared with the old production line, the new production line can reduce water and chemical consumption, be more sustainable, and lower operating costs. Another clever design: the new production line has a mirrored layout with the existing sterile equipment. This means that the layout of the filling machine and packaging machine is completely consistent, and operators can efficiently control both production lines simultaneously. In addition, production logistics remain unchanged, with almost no need to learn new operational processes, greatly simplifying the technology transition cycle.
In mid October 2024, the installation work of the new production line began in continuous production. One challenge was that the production workshop for installing new equipment was located on the third floor, so the machines could not be directly pushed into the workshop. They must be lifted in from above. Heavy equipment components are precisely lifted into the production workshop through the workshop roof. While the original production continues, three to four machines are installed every day. Installing in continuous production was indeed a challenge, "recalled project manager Andr é Marbach. In order to protect the existing filling line from dust and other factors, we built a temporary wall in the ground engineering, "Andr é Marbach said. Therefore, the construction work of the new production line can be carried out without affecting the continuous operation, which not only ensures the cleanliness of the environment but also achieves a smooth transition. By mid December, all machines were in place. Subsequently, intensive water testing, acceptance, and verification were carried out. In early March 2025, an important moment finally arrived: 24-hour production officially started and achieved success. Since the second night shift, production has been proceeding smoothly.
As early as 2020, Rivella Group collaborated with Krones to develop a SAP based Manufacturing Execution System (MES) to improve efficiency through digitization. This system is now being used on new production lines, collecting real-time machine data and automatically analyzing downtime and performance data. Enterprises can quickly respond to problems and minimize unplanned production downtime. The data from the Checkmat detection device has also been integrated into the system, allowing for faster detection of quality deviations and significantly improving the safety of the production process. With the introduction of new production lines and digital systems, the role of operators has also changed: "Employees no longer need to manually adjust machines and control processes, but rather monitor highly automated equipment," explained Andr é Marbach. Fault and performance data will be recorded in real-time, and adjustments will be made digitally. For employees, this means less routine work and more focus on process analysis and optimization.
Choosing new solutions and implementing them with FocusWater towards the future is a massive undertaking and the result of conscious strategic positioning. Through this, the enterprise group ensures that FocusWater not only receives high praise from consumers, but also maintains excellent production performance. A modern and healthy beverage should have the same modern and intelligent production method - and this new sterile production line is built for this purpose.
