Krones AG has been a long-standing NETSTAL customer that manufactures machines for filling and packaging beverages and liquid foods. Additionally, Krones is also acquiring Netstal Deutschland GmbH, a sales and service subsidiary based in Stuttgart, along with eleven other sales and service units across US, South America, Europe and Asia.

The purchase deal was first announced on 29 January 2024 and signed on February 6, strengthening Krones' position in the beverage, medical, and thin-wall packaging markets.

Krones sees significant potential in integrating NETSTAL's technology and market reach, allowing them to offer more specific solutions to customers across the entire beverage and liquid food value chain.

“This transaction is a milestone in the long history of Netstal. Krones opens up strategic perspectives that were previously not possible. The potential for more customer benefits and growth in the beverage sector is obvious. The opportunities in the medical and thin-wall packaging applications are equally exciting. It is a pleasure for me to continue the strategic direction we have taken together with Krones to an even greater extent," added Renzo Davatz, CEO Netstal.

Although NETSTAL's current revenue sits below Krones' group level at just over €200m in the 2023 fiscal year, the company projects to close this gap in the coming years. Notably, NETSTAL contributed nearly 20% to the KraussMaffei Group's 2023 total sales.

The tailgate consists of several components. The outer frame and inner part made of Borealis Fibremod GB416LF are glued together to meet design and load requirements. Painted exterior parts are glued to the tailgate structure, as well. As a loadbearing part, the tailgate must be extremely robust to withstand static and dynamic loads. Part of the tailgate also lies in the vehicle’s interior, meaning it must comply with emission, fogging, and odor requirements. Finally, to achieve overall weight reduction for the new Multivan — it weighs around 200 kg less than its immediate predecessor — the tailgate itself must also be lighter. Using Fibremod GB416LF enabled Magna to meet these challenges head on.

Fibremod GB416LF was specifically tailored for use in tailgate carriers and visible structural parts. As a high-flow, 40%-fiber-reinforced material, it fulfils stringent emission and mechanical performance requirements. Using Fibremod GB416LF also can eliminate the need for additional surface finishing steps such as painting.

A long-glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene (PP) compound from Borealis is a core component of an all-plastic tailgate tagged to the new Volkswagen Multivan. Molded of Fibremod PP compound, the tailgate is said to be the largest ever all-thermoplastic tailgate.

The revolutionary tailgate of the new VW Multivan demonstrates how customer-centric innovation and collaboration can produce high-performance parts that lower the overall carbon footprint of vehicles, said Borealis. The Fibremod portfolio of lighter-weight polypropylene (PP) compounds is giving Tier I suppliers and OEMs the freedom to design and manufacture more sustainable and lightweight solutions for leading automotive brands and their increasingly electric fleets, the company added.

PP fiber-reinforced compounds have a proven track record when it comes to lightweighting for interior, exterior, and under-the-bonnet automotive parts. The proprietary Fibremod long-glass-fiber-reinforced PP (PP-LGF) technology offers fiber impregnation, flexibility in the use of various PP matrices, and the production of grades in customized colors. Fibremod compounds are described as cost-effective alternatives to conventional metals and engineering plastics–based solutions, as they are highly suitable for injection molding processes. Moreover, Fibremod LGF compounds boast flowability for smooth processing and low warpage.

Headquartered in Näfels, Switzerland, NETSTAL provides injection moulding machines in the beverage (PET preforms and caps), medical, and thin-wall packaging markets.

KraussMaffei CEO Chi Zhang said: "The sale of NETSTAL is part of our long-term plan to realign KraussMaffei strategically, organisationally and on the global market. In future, we want to concentrate fully on our core business and new growth markets, strengthen the KraussMaffei core brand and focus the Group accordingly. At the same time, the sale of NETSTAL gives us the leeway to make further investments, for example in digitisation and the development of new machines."

As part of the agreement, around 530 NETSTAL employees will join Krones from KraussMaffei, ensuring both continuity and valuable expertise. All existing NETSTAL jobs will be retained. NETSTAL will operate as a separate, independent entity within the Krones Group, led by CEO Renzo Davatz.

Collaboration between materials supplier Borealis and Tier I Magna yielded the all-plastic tailgate, one of many firsts in the VW Multivan.

Mechanical engineering specialist Krones AG has finalised the acquisition of NETSTAL Maschinen AG, Swiss-based provider of injection moulding solutions, from KraussMaffei for €170 million.