More than just a machine, Flectra is the first tangible outcome of a broader transformation within Krones’ Compact Class – the business unit focused on filling and packaging solutions for the low and medium output range. As part of this strategic shift, Krones is consolidating the expertise of Kosme Italy, Kosme Austria, Kosme FBA and Gernep into a single, unified organisation.
What happens when two companies combine their expertise? They create something greater than the sum of their parts. That’s precisely what happened when KOSME and Gernep – two specialists in the Compact Class within the Krones Group – joined forces. The result is Flectra, a next-generation labeller that sets new standards in flexibility, precision and user experience.
Technology that adapts to your needs
With over 80 years of combined experience, Flectra is designed to meet the diverse requirements of the beverage, liquid food, personal care and pharmaceutical industries. To accommodate a wide range of applications, it is available in two configurations: pre-modular and fully modular.
The fully modular version allows labelling stations to be swapped out via trolley, with plug-and-play functionality ensuring automatic parameter settings. Customers benefit from advanced self-adhesive and cold-glue labelling units. The self-adhesive station reaches speeds of up to 100 m/min and features servo-driven motors, automatic axis adjustment and a compact footprint. The cold-glue unit handles up to 24,000 bottles per hour and includes backlash-free polygon shafts, oil-circulating lubrication and compatibility with existing Kosme and Krones components.
Additional features include improved accessibility for faster format changes and easier cleaning. The UniGrip multi-functional clamping starwheel can be added to handle round containers of various diameters, with height adjustment to minimise changeovers and interruptions.
Flectra features:
- Enhanced self-adhesive and cold-glue labelling stations
- Oil-circulating lubrication system and polygon shafts for high-precision labelling
- Improved accessibility for faster changeovers and easier cleaning
- Optional UniGrip clamping starwheel for handling round containers of various diameters
- Revamped optical alignment and label inspection systems for maximum accuracy and minimal footprint
Precision meets intelligence
Flectra’s revamped monitoring systems ensure precise optical alignment and label inspection, with shorter distances for bottle positioning and a reduced footprint. The sensor-driven orientation system enables 360-degrees bottle rotation and accurate alignment based on embossing, seams, graphics or notches. High-resolution cameras, LED lighting and deep learning OCR detect label overlaps, barcodes, QR codes and more – all managed via the central HMI.
Digital control and seamless integration
The newly designed 24-inch Full HD HMI features a flat touchscreen, integrated keypad and hygienic design. A 270-degrees swivel arm allows operation from nearly any angle. The intuitive interface simplifies handling and reduces training time. Flectra is fully compatible with the Krones Operation Platform and ready for integration into Krones.world, enabling real-time monitoring, digital services and sustainability tracking.
Efficient, hygienic, ready to go
Flectra is built for fast installation and easy maintenance. Features such as “Click-Clack” baseplate changeovers, suspended aggregates, tool-free format changes and a labyrinth sealing system ensure compliance with hygiene standards and reduce cleaning downtime. The machine can be installed by a single engineer and offers a lead time of just 12 weeks for standard configurations.
The first reference machines for self-adhesive and cold-glue labelling will be commissioned at customer sites early next year.
