KHS

KHS GmbH is a German manufacturer and systems supplier specializing in filling and packaging technology. Headquartered in Dortmund, the company designs and produces machinery and integrated production lines for beverage, food, and non-food manufacturers. Its equipment supports a wide range of containers and formats, including glass and PET bottles, cans, and kegs. KHS can supply individual machines as well as complete turnkey lines that connect container production, product processing, filling, closing, labeling, inspection, secondary packaging, palletizing, and sanitation into a coordinated production system. The modern KHS organization was created in 1993 through the merger of two established German engineering businesses: Holstein & Kappert AG of Dortmund, founded in 1868, and Seitz-Werke GmbH of Bad Kreuznach, founded in 1887. Both companies had previously come under the ownership of Klöckner-Werke during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The merger formed KHS Maschinen- und Anlagenbau AG and combined complementary capabilities in beverage filling, packaging, and process engineering. KHS later became part of the Salzgitter industrial group. Following the acquisition of a majority stake in Klöckner-Werke by Salzgitter AG in 2007, KHS-related businesses were reorganized within Salzgitter Klöckner-Werke GmbH. KHS AG was converted into KHS GmbH in 2010, and the company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Salzgitter Klöckner-Werke GmbH in 2011. KHS's technical scope extends beyond conventional filling machinery. Its processing portfolio includes beverage blending, filtration, high-gravity brewing systems, flash pasteurization, deaeration, rinsing, and aseptic processing. Filling and closing systems cover bottles and cans, while dedicated kegging technology serves draft-beverage producers. The company also supplies washing, pasteurizing, labeling, inspection, packing, unpacking, and palletizing equipment. Through the activities historically associated with KHS Corpoplast, KHS Plasmax, and KHS Moldtec, the group has also participated in PET stretch blow molding, plastic-bottle barrier technology, and the development of specialized bottle formats. KHS operates through production and engineering sites in Germany and abroad. German facilities have been associated with Dortmund, Bad Kreuznach, Hamburg, Kleve, and Worms, with different locations focused on product centers such as washing and pasteurizing, filling and beverage processing, packaging, palletizing, stretch blow molding, and barrier technology. International production and operating locations identified in reference material include Brazil, the United States, Mexico, India, and China, supported by sales offices, subsidiaries, and market coverage in numerous countries. The company's market position is based on supplying capital equipment and complete line solutions rather than consumer-facing products. Its customers are industrial producers seeking high-throughput, integrated, and technically coordinated systems for liquid products and packaged goods. KHS therefore competes in the industrial machinery sector, particularly in beverage filling, packaging automation, process engineering, and container technology. Historical company information reported a workforce of 4,178 employees worldwide in 2012 and sales of approximately €1.0 billion that year; those figures are historical and are not presented as current performance indicators.

KHS's corporate history combines two older German engineering traditions. Holstein & Kappert was established in Dortmund in 1868, while Seitz-Werke was founded in Bad Kreuznach in 1887. Both businesses developed industrial machinery capabilities that later became important to beverage filling and packaging technology. During the period from 1977 to 1982, Klöckner-Werke acquired Holstein & Kappert in full and obtained a majority stake in Seitz-Werke. Seitz-Werke subsequently became associated with SEN AG. In 1993, Holstein & Kappert and the Seitz organization were brought together in a merger that created KHS Maschinen- und Anlagenbau AG in Dortmund. The combination consolidated expertise in filling, processing, packaging, and related production systems. KHS consequently developed as a supplier able to address multiple stages of beverage production rather than only one machine category. A major ownership change occurred in 2007, when Salzgitter AG acquired a majority share in Klöckner-Werke. In 2008, KHS Corpoplast, KHS Plasmax, and KHS Moldtec were integrated into Salzgitter Klöckner-Werke GmbH. These businesses broadened the group's capabilities in PET stretch blow molding, bottle-barrier technology, and plastic-container development. In 2010, KHS AG changed its legal form and became KHS GmbH. In 2011, KHS GmbH became a wholly owned subsidiary of Salzgitter Klöckner-Werke GmbH. The resulting company has been organized around several technical centers and production locations. Dortmund serves as headquarters and has been associated with washing, pasteurizing, labeling, and inspection technology. The Bad Kreuznach site has focused on beverage filling engineering and processing, including filtration, blending, high-gravity brewing, flash pasteurization, deaeration, aseptic applications, rinsing, filling, cap and lid feeding, sealing, and kegging systems. Kleve has concentrated on end-of-line packaging, while Worms has been associated with packing, unpacking, and palletizing. Hamburg operations linked to KHS Corpoplast and KHS Plasmax have focused on stretch blow molding and barrier technologies. KHS's international footprint has included production facilities in Brazil, the United States, Mexico, India, and China, in addition to sales offices, subsidiaries, and representatives serving customers across global markets. The company's systems cover glass and PET bottles, cans, and kegs, and can be configured for beverage, food, and non-food applications. Its turnkey lines are intended to connect a series of manufacturing operations, from container production and liquid processing through filling, closing, labeling, inspection, secondary packaging, palletizing, and sanitation. Historical reference material reported 4,178 employees worldwide in 2012 and sales of about €1.0 billion for that year. Earlier reported sales were €986 million in 2008, €727 million in 2009, €918 million in 2010, and €917 million in 2011. These figures describe historical reporting periods and should not be interpreted as current financial data.

• 2011

  KHS becomes wholly owned by Salzgitter Klöckner-Werke

  [1]KHS GmbHen.wikipedia.org

  KHS GmbH became a wholly owned subsidiary of Salzgitter Klöckner-Werke GmbH.

• 2010

  KHS AG becomes KHS GmbH

  [1]KHS GmbHen.wikipedia.org

  The company's legal form changed from KHS AG to KHS GmbH.

• 2008

  KHS Corpoplast, KHS Plasmax, and KHS Moldtec integrated

  [1]KHS GmbHen.wikipedia.org

  These businesses were integrated into Salzgitter Klöckner-Werke GmbH, expanding the group's container and barrier-technology activities.

• 2007

  Salzgitter AG acquires a majority share in Klöckner-Werke

  [1]KHS GmbHen.wikipedia.org

  The transaction placed KHS within the broader Salzgitter industrial group structure.

• 1993

  KHS Maschinen- und Anlagenbau AG formed

  [1]KHS GmbHen.wikipedia.org

  Holstein & Kappert and the Seitz organization merged to create KHS Maschinen- und Anlagenbau AG in Dortmund.

• 1977

  Klöckner-Werke begins acquiring the predecessor companies

  [1]KHS GmbHen.wikipedia.org

  Between 1977 and 1982, Klöckner-Werke acquired Holstein & Kappert outright and obtained a majority interest in Seitz-Werke.

• 1887

  Seitz-Werke founded

  [1]KHS GmbHen.wikipedia.org

  Seitz-Werke was founded in Bad Kreuznach and later became part of the corporate history leading to KHS.

• 1868

  Holstein & Kappert founded

  [1]KHS GmbHen.wikipedia.org

  Holstein & Kappert was established in Dortmund, creating one of the industrial engineering predecessors of modern KHS.

Integrated industrial machinery supplier for beverage, food, and non-food producers, with particular strength in filling, processing, packaging automation, PET container production, and complete turnkey lines.

• Integrated production systems

  Turnkey beverage production lines

  KHS turnkey lines combine the machines and process stages needed to manufacture and package beverages. Depending on the application, a line can include PET container production, liquid processing, rinsing, filling, closing, labeling, inspection, secondary packaging, palletizing, and sanitation. The systems are designed for glass and PET bottles, cans, and kegs and can be configured for beverage, food, and non-food operations.

• Filling machinery

  Filling and closing systems

  KHS supplies filling equipment for bottles, cans, and kegs, including systems for conventional and aseptic beverage applications. The broader filling portfolio is supported by rinsing, cap and lid feeding, sealing, and related line-integration technologies. These systems are used by producers handling a variety of liquid products and container formats.

• Process engineering

  Beverage processing systems

  The processing portfolio includes filtration, beverage blending, high-gravity brewing, flash pasteurization, deaeration, sanitizing, and aseptic processing technologies. These systems prepare and treat beverages before filling and are intended to help customers coordinate product quality, hygiene, and production-line efficiency.

• End-of-line automation

  Packaging and palletizing equipment

  KHS manufactures equipment for secondary and end-of-line packaging, including packing, unpacking, and palletizing systems. Its Kleve and Worms activities have historically been associated with these functions. The machinery can be integrated with upstream filling and labeling equipment to create continuous production and dispatch workflows.

• PET container production

  InnoPET Blomax

  InnoPET Blomax is a KHS PET stretch blow molding offering used in the production of plastic bottles. It belongs to the company's container-technology portfolio, which connects bottle manufacturing with downstream filling and packaging operations.

• Secondary packaging

  Nature MultiPack

  Nature MultiPack is a KHS packaging concept for grouping beverage containers with reduced dependence on conventional secondary packaging materials. The offering is associated with KHS's broader focus on packaging-system design and material-efficient line solutions.

• Plastic-bottle barrier technology

  KHS Plasmax barrier technology

  KHS Plasmax represents barrier technology for plastic bottles. Its role within the KHS portfolio is connected with improving the functional properties of plastic containers and supporting the development of specialized bottle formats for packaged products.

• 2011

  Full ownership transferred to Salzgitter Klöckner-WerkeM&A

  Background

  KHS was part of the Salzgitter group following Salzgitter AG's majority acquisition of Klöckner-Werke.

  Action taken

  KHS GmbH became a wholly owned subsidiary of Salzgitter Klöckner-Werke GmbH.

  Aftermath

  KHS continued operating as a wholly owned industrial-machinery business within the Salzgitter group.

  Source

• 2010

  Legal-form change to KHS GmbHOther

  Background

  KHS operated as KHS AG after its formation and subsequent development under the Klöckner-Werke structure.

  Action taken

  KHS AG was converted into KHS GmbH.

  Aftermath

  The company continued its industrial machinery activities under the GmbH legal form.

  Source

• 2008

  Integration of container-technology businessesStrategy

  Background

  KHS's ownership structure was being reorganized within Salzgitter Klöckner-Werke after Salzgitter AG acquired a majority share in Klöckner-Werke.

  Action taken

  KHS Corpoplast, KHS Plasmax, and KHS Moldtec were integrated into Salzgitter Klöckner-Werke GmbH.

  Aftermath

  The integration broadened the group's capabilities in PET stretch blow molding, plastic-bottle barrier technology, and bottle development.

  Source

• 1993

  Merger creates KHS Maschinen- und Anlagenbau AGM&A

  Background

  Holstein & Kappert and the Seitz organization were already connected through Klöckner-Werke ownership and brought complementary engineering capabilities in filling and packaging machinery.

  Action taken

  The two predecessor businesses were merged to form KHS Maschinen- und Anlagenbau AG in Dortmund.

  Aftermath

  The merger established the corporate platform that later became KHS GmbH and supported a broader integrated-systems offering.

  Source

1. 1KHS GmbHen.wikipedia.org