When the doors of the expanded facility in Taicang officially opened on October 13, Krones celebrated more than the inauguration of new buildings. The expansion marks a milestone in the company’s development in China: it symbolizes a journey that began more than five decades ago and has now reached a preliminary culmination with Krones’ largest production site outside Germany.
With the expansion of its Taicang facility in China, Krones is doing more than adding production capacity. The company is strengthening local manufacturing, engineering and service capabilities, creating the foundation to support China’s beverage and liquid food industry with greater speed, flexibility and proximity to the market.
When Krones first entered the Chinese market in the 1970s, the country’s beverage industry was at a very different stage of development. Today, China is one of the world’s most important and innovative markets for the beverage and liquid food sector. As customers’ businesses have evolved, so too have their expectations of technology partners: projects must be executed faster, production systems tailored more precisely, and service support available whenever it is needed.
Against this backdrop, the expansion of the Taicang site represents far more than additional production space. It reflects the next stage in a development that Krones has shaped together with its Chinese customers over decades.
From local production site to integrated competence center
When Krones began manufacturing in Taicang in 2004, the site focused on selected production activities. As the Chinese market continued to grow and evolve, the facility developed alongside it.
Today, the site’s capabilities extend far beyond manufacturing. Engineering, production, testing, quality assurance and service are closely integrated in one location. The latest expansion further strengthens these capabilities.
“With the expansion in Taicang, we are investing in the long‑term development of Krones in China. We are systematically expanding our capabilities in manufacturing, engineering and service. This enables us to support our customers in the Chinese market even more comprehensively and flexibly.”
Ralf GoldbrunnerMember of the Executive Board
The expanded facility comprises a gross floor area of approximately 74,000 square metres on a site covering around 120,000 square metres. Key elements include new capacities for module and machine assembly, modern testing facilities and automated intralogistics systems from System Logistics.
Most importantly, the expansion enhances not only production capacity but also the site’s ability to support customer projects from planning through commissioning.
Closer to the needs of the market
The expansion is guided by a clear objective: bringing expertise, resources and decision‑making closer to customers.
China’s market is characterized by rapid development and short innovation cycles. Beverage producers expect not only proven technology, but also fast response times and close support throughout every stage of a project.
“The dynamics of the Chinese market require speed, flexibility and innovation,” explains Ralf Goldbrunner. “By expanding our site, we are creating the conditions to support our customers even more directly and execute projects more efficiently.”
Arthur Wang (CEO of Krones Machinery (Taicang) Co., Ltd.) adds: “Many of our customers are advancing their production concepts at a remarkable pace. That makes it all the more important to have the relevant expertise available locally. This is exactly what the continued development of our Taicang site represents.”
The company’s infrastructure in China has been designed around this principle. In addition to the production site in Taicang, Krones operates sales and service hubs in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Shenzhen. Together, these locations form a nationwide network that combines consulting, project management and technical support.
The increased manufacturing capabilities in Taicang significantly strengthen this network. Development, production and service processes can be coordinated more closely, resulting in shorter communication paths, faster decision‑making and greater flexibility for customer‑specific requirements.
Where customer proximity meets expertise
One of the most important additions to the site is the new updated aseptic laboratory. Here, sterilization processes for packaging materials can be validated and chemical as well as microbiological analyses performed. What may sound like a technical detail delivers significant practical advantages. Validation and approval processes can now be supported locally, helping to shorten project timelines and accelerate implementation.
“Customer proximity today means more than geographical closeness,” says Arthur Wang. “It means making the necessary expertise available where decisions are made and projects are executed. Our new laboratory strengthens exactly that capability.” Simultaneously, the same quality standards applied at all Krones production sites worldwide also apply in Taicang. Every machine undergoes comprehensive inspections, from incoming goods through final acceptance testing.
Investing in the future
The expansion was designed according to modern smart factory principles. Digital processes connect material, production and information flows, while automated high‑bay warehouses ensure efficient logistics operations. Intelligent building management systems further enhance operational efficiency.
Sustainability was also an integral part of the project from the outset. Rainwater harvesting systems help reduce freshwater consumption, while advanced energy management systems support the efficient use of resources and environmentally responsible site operations.
The next step in a long journey
More than 20 years after the opening of the first facility in Taicang and over 50 years after Krones launched its first operations in China, the expansion primarily represents continuity. The company has developed its presence alongside the market, steadily expanding local capabilities and expertise.
“The development of Taicang reflects the development of our business in China. We have continuously expanded our capabilities over many years. With this latest investment, we are creating the foundation for the next chapter of that success story.”
Ralf GoldbrunnerMember of the Executive Board
In many ways, the inauguration on October 13 brings a long journey full circle. What began with initial market activities in the 1970s has evolved into a comprehensive network of sales, service, engineering and production. The expanded Taicang site stands not only for additional capacity, but also for the trust that customers, partners and employees have built together over decades, and for the commitment of Krones to supporting the future development of China’s beverage and liquid food industry.
