Let’s go back to September. A small presentation area right in the middle of the Krones stand at this year’s drinktec provided the stage for our Krones Forum. Over the course of the week, specialists gave lectures on five key topics: the line of the future, digital transformation, sustainability, trends and products, and visions.
The Krones Forum at drinktec 2025 covered a broad spectrum of topics, offered more than 40 keynote and specialist presentations, and featured various panel talks. It also provided a whole range of eye-openers and exclusive insights – not only for drinktec visitors, but also for those unable to attend in person – because all sessions are available online to rewatch.
Recordings of all presentations available online
The keen interest shown in the presentations was vivid proof that Krones had scored a hit with its decision to host its own lecture forum: Firstly, the talks were always well attended, and secondly, many people took part in this format online, both during the fair and now afterwards. In the drinktec week, about 16,000 watched the livestream offered for the entire Forum and the recordings have since been available on our website and on the Krones YouTube channel for anyone to take another look.
The great response to our Forum was due not only to the multifaceted programme but also to the accessible dialogue format. Each of the sessions lasted about 15 minutes, an ideal length which was convenient enough to allow people to fit them into their time at the fair (or into their working day in podcast form afterwards), but long enough for them to immerse themselves fully in the subject at hand.
Five days brimming with exciting topics
The first speakers on the stage were three members of our Executive Board: Christoph Klenk (CEO), Thomas Ricker (CSO) and Markus Tischer (responsible for International Operations and Services). Their keynote presentations attracted the curiosity of many visitors and made sure the series of talks got off to a flying start.
On Monday, it was all about the line of the future, Ingeniq, which Krones had presented as a vision at drinktec 2022 and which now, in 2025, has been translated into shopfloor reality. In addition to the overall concept of Ingeniq and its individual constituents, the first day of the Forum was centred around the first completed line, which handles PET containers – exploring the topic not just from Krones’ point of view! In a panel talk, representatives from Niagara Bottling and Shepley Spring shared their thoughts on the line of the future in practical operation.
Day Two focused on digital transformation. The ten sessions spotlighted digital services, automation solutions and AI applications for our industry – based on practical explanations and real examples from companies like innocent and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.
Wednesday revolved around sustainability. Not only did the sessions spotlight how to make sustainability an integral part of the corporate strategy, they also illuminated the potential it offers in production, including everything from the provision of advice on new machines right through to after-sales service support. Speakers came from Krones and its subsidiaries Steinecker and Krones Recycling and also from our customer Asahi and the measuring-instrument producer Endress+Hauser.
On Thursday, the stage was given over to trends and products. From label-free bottles to more efficient beer filling right through to compact aseptic solutions: Our development teams gave the audience some insight into their work, and the market research company GlobalData revealed the upcoming trends awaiting the beverage industry.
In the final session on Friday, we were not looking back, quite the reverse: we were looking far ahead into the future! The Forum’s last morning was dedicated to Visions, and spotlighted the challenges to be met and mastered in future – and not just from Krones’ point of view. Representatives from The Coca-Cola Company, Niagara Bottling and Yili also shared their views with the Forum’s visitors.
“The paramount goal we’d set ourselves at drinktec was to demonstrate our innovative vigour. And that’s precisely the impression we left with our customers,” said CEO Christoph Klenk during the final talk on the Forum’s closing day. His colleague on the Executive Board, Markus Tischer, added: “The drinktec is the world’s biggest trade fair for the food and beverage industries. And the point of such an event is to showcase things. But how do you showcase things that have not yet materialised, like our visions, dreams, thoughts and views? As I see it, the Forum was the ideal place to present our ideas.”
