Cooperation focuses on Japan’s beer and alternative-food markets

State-of-the-art technologies, efficient production and impeccable product quality: Japan is known for setting high standards in beverage production. And true to its claim of providing “Solutions beyond tomorrow”, Krones is, of course, meeting these standards fully. With its team of more than 70 employees, Krones’ sales and service company in Japan executes projects that, for the most part, tend to centre on water, soft drinks and sensitive beverages. In order to better serve the market for beer and other fermented products, Krones’ subsidiary Steinecker now signed a multi-year cooperation agreement with the Japanese planning and engineering company BET. “The Japanese brewery market is very unique, with its own demands and requirements. We believe that the cooperation between Steinecker and BET will be the perfect match to deliver and execute the correct solutions for our Japanese customers and bring them success,” says Minato Kobori, Head of Sales at Krones Japan. Severin Thomandl, who is responsible for the Asia-Pacific region at Steinecker, adds: “Especially in the area of process technology, the aim is to offer bespoke concepts and solutions. So, Steinecker has teamed up with a local partner, to even better meet the individual wishes and needs of our Japanese customers.”

And BET was the obvious choice. That’s because the Japanese company, with German roots and headquartered in Tokyo, has already been doing business in Japan for 17 years, planning and engineering brewery and distillery projects and providing after-sales service. As a result, BET not only has many years of experience in the brewery space. Its people also understand the culture, speak Japanese customers’ language – both literally and figuratively – and know the market like the back of their hand. “We’re excited to work with Steinecker and Krones Japan to bring Steinecker’s innovative, sustainable solutions to the Japanese beer and beverages market,” says Sebastian Hohentanner, Vice President at BET. Florian Kurpas, Head of Procurement at Steinecker, explains: “We expect the collaboration with BET to give us better access to local service resources, which will yield synergies for our on-site projects.”

Not only breweries benefit from the partnership. Because Steinecker has taken its experience in the brewing industry and adapted it for the production of alternative foods. For example, Steinecker’s bioreactor offers a system for precision fermentation on an industrial scale.