Originally a mechanical engineering firm, Krones has embarked on an impressive journey of expansion. It now offers a wide range of products including bottling lines, packaging machines, and digital solutions. This diversification doesn't halt at just these offerings; Krones continues to push the boundaries by providing innovative technologies that significantly enhance production efficiency and sustainability, particularly for food and beverage manufacturers.

Partnering for a Sustainable Future

In a move that showcases its commitment to sustainability, Krones partnered with PureCycle Technologies. PureCycle is renowned for its patented process of purifying polypropylene waste into high-quality recycled resin, aiming to close the loop in polypropylene recycling. This innovative approach utilises a unique solvent-based method that separates and purifies polypropylene from contaminants and other plastics. It not only enhances the quality of the recycled material but also ensures it meets the strict standards required for various applications.Polypropylene presents significant environmental challenges due to its low recycling rates. These challenges encompass non-biodegradability, microplastics, resource-intensive production, chemical pollution, end-of-life challenges, and ecosystem disruption. Addressing these requires improved recycling infrastructure, the development of biodegradable alternatives, and greater public awareness.This collaboration is set to develop innovative solutions for the recycling and repurposing of polypropylene waste. Using PureCycle's proprietary process, they create 'ultra-pure' recycled resin from used polypropylene plastics. PureCycle is expanding efforts with a new processing and production facility, with Krones technology playing a crucial role in processing and sustainability efforts.As Dustin Olson, CEO of PureCycle, states, "The polypropylene market produces 90 million tonnes of plastics per year, and because there simply has not been the appropriate technology, less than 10 percent of that material is recycled. PureCycle has developed ground-breaking technologies that enable us to clean these plastics at the molecular level, removing colour, odour, and contaminants."PureCycle's solvent-based technology converts polypropylene feedstock into a sustainable, ultra-pure recycled resin with like-new characteristics that can be used infinitely within the new end-to-end facility. They have also invested in Krones' MetaPure technology to wash and prepare all polypropylene stock materials for processing.Krones' MetaPure technology is designed to revolutionize the recycling process in the beverage industry. It focuses on transforming post-consumer PET bottles back into high-quality raw materials, enabling manufacturers to reduce their dependence on virgin plastics. By utilizing a sophisticated mechanical recycling process combined with cutting-edge decontamination methods, Krones MetaPure ensures that the recycled PET maintains the necessary quality standards for food and beverage applications.Demonstrating a firm commitment to sustainability, PureCycle made an additional investment in Krones' HydroCircle technology. This technology focuses on optimizing water usage and reducing wastewater by implementing a closed-loop system. It enables companies to recycle and reuse water in their production processes, minimizing environmental impact and leading to cost savings.Two HydroCircle units will help PureCycle move closer to a closed-loop concept. HydroCircle converts production wastewater into treated water that can be reused in the production process. All steps that produce wastewater during production are also considered.As Jon Larson, head of Plastics Technology at Krones North America, says, "PureCycle is a company that truly believes in true circularity in its processes. When discussing their need for greater sustainability efforts related to their wastewater, Krones' HydroCircle technology presented an ideal solution. As the first HydroCircle systems to be utilized in a U.S. recycling facility, these units will help convert approximately 90 per cent of all production waste into reusable process water that can be filtered back into the system."Once complete, the facility will be capable of creating 117,000 tonnes of ultra-pure, 'like-new' recycled resin each year, with PureCycle already scaling additional feed-and-prep facilities in the U.S. and overseas.As Olson further emphasizes, "Krones is a Tier One equipment supplier with a clear commitment to quality and sustainability. As the relationship grows over time, it has become clear that they are an ideal partner for these types of projects."To learn more about this latest development around polypropylene, contact Krones or visit www.krones.com.

The construction sector holds a crucial position in the U.S. economy, accounting for approximately 4.4% of the GDP and being tied to around $2.2 trillion in annualized spending. This sector's impact is significant and has far-reaching implications. On Monday (Dec. 2), the Commerce Department's report on construction spending revealed that it was higher than the consensus estimate, with a growth of 0.4%, while economists had expected only 0.2% growth. Such figures highlight the sector's dynamism and its ability to exceed expectations.

Capital Intensity and Payment Challenges

The construction sector is highly capital intensive, a characteristic that distinguishes it from many other industries. PYMNTS has reported that 76% of subcontractors are almost always paid with paper checks by general contractors and property owners. This slow payment process costs these firms a substantial amount, with estimates reaching $273 billion. This issue has led subcontractors to take measures such as increasing their use of personal savings for business purposes by 105% over 2023 levels. In response to these concerns, more than 9 in 10 subcontractors are willing to offer a discount of up to 5% for faster payments.