The Core Engine of an Efficient Complete Line: KHS's New-Generation Can Filling/Seaming Technology SmartCan

Consumer demand is increasingly diverse, and beverage products and packaging formats are constantly becoming richer. At the same time, changes in raw material, energy and labor costs have led manufacturers to pay greater attention to production efficiency, resource consumption, automation levels and the ability of equipment to run stably over the long term. For producers of canned alcoholic beverages and drinks, these changes affect every link of the production line. Beyond capacity, how to improve the flexibility of product changeovers, maintain stable product quality, reduce resource consumption and maintenance costs, and further improve overall line efficiency has become an important focus for manufacturers. On October 13, 2026, at the 2026 CBB China International Beer and Beverage Manufacturing Technology and Equipment Exhibition, KHS was invited to attend and, under the theme 'The Core Engine of an Efficient Complete Line: KHS's New-Generation Can Filling and Seaming Technology', shared its new-generation SmartCan can filling/seaming solution. Starting from core equipment to improve overall line efficiency In high-speed can production lines, filling and seaming are the core links that affect overall line efficiency and product quality. SmartCan was jointly developed by KHS and Ferrum, integrating the KHS Innofill Can DVD high-speed can filler, Ferrum seaming equipment and the corresponding service modules into an integrated, modular system operated through a unified HMI human-machine interface. Based on the practical requirements of multi-category production, product quality, hygiene standards, resource utilization and stable equipment operation, the new-generation SmartCan has undergone numerous technical optimizations from filling to seaming. 01 Flexible production to handle more product and packaging combinations As beverage categories and packaging specifications continue to diversify, production equipment must adapt to a wider variety of production tasks. The KHS Innofill Can DVD uses a computer-controlled fully automatic filling system, precisely controlling fill volume through electromagnetic flow meters, with capacity of up to 135,000 cans/hour, and is suitable for beer, carbonated soft drinks, carbonated and non-carbonated beverages, and hot- and cold-filled juices and other different products. In terms of product changeover, the equipment uses lightweight, modular change parts and supports tool-free quick replacement. The sealing range of the can mouth centering bell is compatible with 200 to 206 can formats without the need to replace the corresponding change parts. Ferrum's new-generation FS series seaming equipment, through recipe control and automatic height adjustment, can reduce changeover time by up to 50%. From multi-category filling to rapid changeover, SmartCan further enhances the production flexibility of can lines to meet the production needs of different product and packaging combinations. 02 Precise control, balancing high-speed production and product quality During high-speed operation, filling accuracy and the oxygen content in the package are directly related to final product quality. The SmartCan filling/seaming monobloc system uses electromagnetic flow meters to control the filling valves, with each filling valve equipped with an independent flow meter to achieve precise control of fill volume. At the same time, foam breaking reduces foam and bubbles on the beverage surface, and lid underside purging is then used to displace oxygen in the headspace, further improving TPO. Among these, the new linear purging method, while reducing TPO, can reduce CO₂ consumption by up to 20%, and N₂ can also be selected as the protective gas. Precise control of the two key indicators — fill volume and oxygen content — provides the technical basis for maintaining stable quality of different beverages during continuous production. 03 Clean design to reduce cleaning and maintenance input Hygiene and equipment maintenance likewise affect the long-term operating efficiency of the production line. In the filling system, functional valves are compactly integrated into the filling valve body; product, process media and pneumatic valves are automatically connected as the valve body is installed, reducing piping and cabling connections in the hygienic area. Ferrum FS series seaming equipment uses an enclosed seaming space, with further streamlined components in the product area and the use of stainless steel or corrosion-resistant materials; the compact product area and sloped bottom structure also facilitate equipment cleaning and liquid drainage. On this basis, the system is equipped with automatic foam cleaning as well as cleaning designs for different positions such as the product area and the can infeed area. Equipment maintenance intervals can be extended to 7,000 hours, and remote diagnostics via KHS ReDiS are supported. 04 Integrated control for better coordination between filling and seaming SmartCan's integrated design is not only reflected in the mechanical structure but also extends to the equipment control level. The unified HMI human-machine interface can be used to operate the KHS filling system and Ferrum seaming equipment, centrally displaying equipment functions, output, pressure and machine status, while also providing customer-specific operating functions and help functions. Concentrating the operation and equipment information of filling and seaming on the same interface makes the operation and management of the two core links more unified, and also allows SmartCan to connect more smoothly with upstream and downstream equipment, helping the coordinated operation of the high-speed can complete line. Global applications continue to expand, with SmartCan entering more production sites The SmartCan filling/seaming monobloc system takes 'modular, configurable, expandable' as its design concept, balancing production efficiency and flexibility and meeting the diversified demands of the future market. Since its launch, SmartCan has been favored by beverage and beer producers worldwide, with nearly several dozen units sold, and applications covering multiple markets including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy, Austria, Turkey, Canada, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Cambodia, Vietnam and China. SmartCan's global applications continue to unfold in different production scenarios. Taking the Coca-Cola HBC Serbia plant as an example, after applying SmartCan it achieved a production capacity of 100,000 cans/hour, shortening the previous one-week production cycle to 3 days, and can meet the production needs of 250 ml and 500 ml can formats. From market applications in different countries and regions to efficiency and flexibility performance in actual production, SmartCan is accumulating practice at more beverage and beer production sites around the world, and also providing rich experience for its further implementation in the Chinese market. Taking root in the Chinese market, SmartCan moves toward localized manufacturing This mature filling/seaming monobloc technology, SmartCan, has been successively applied by domestic beer and carbonated soft drink producers, covering different production needs from 72,000 cans/hour to 90,000 cans/hour. Multiple SmartCan projects have already been implemented in the Chinese market. As projects in the Chinese market continue to be implemented, SmartCan is moving further from equipment introduction toward localized manufacturing. In 2025, SmartCan and the KHS Innofill Can DVD high-speed filling system started production at the KHS Kunshan plant. At present, the SmartCan filling/seaming monobloc system covers capacity up to 108,000 cans/hour, and there are plans to continue expanding the SmartCan and KHS Innofill Can DVD high-speed can filling product portfolio. The first localized SmartCan produced by the Kunshan plant can reach a capacity of up to 72,000 cans/hour, extending SmartCan's localization from equipment manufacturing to the project site. From core equipment to complete-line coordination, from global technology to local manufacturing, we continue to improve our products and services in the fields of cans, PET and glass bottles, helping you produce efficiently, stably and flexibly with a more comprehensive complete-line solution, and becoming your trusted partner.