KHS has identified India as an important growth driver in its global strategy, with the company’s CFO finance, procurement and IT, Martin Resch, describing it as a “boom market” that has been accelerating since 2024 and continues to play a central role in the company’s expansion.
Speaking at the company’s press conference on the first day of drinktec 2025 on 15 September, Resch said India, along with Brazil, is now among the focus regions for new investment as KHS seeks to strengthen its presence in fast-growing markets.
In India, KHS is expanding its existing production facility in Ahmedabad and is adding a new technology centre. In Brazil, the company is adding new warehouse, new electrical assembly area and expanding its office. In the US, KHS is modernizing its offices and adding new hall to expand existing production area.
While India and Brazil are in focus, Resch was keen to stress that KHS is investing across all regions to maintain proximity to its customers. The company’s international structure, he said, is designed to ensure that production capacity and service support are available locally, helping KHS respond more quickly to customer needs and adapt to regional market dynamics.
Reviewing recent performance, Resch said KHS has grown by about 9% in recent years and is on track for a similar or slightly stronger result in 2025. Growth is now more evenly spread worldwide. While the US drove much of the company’s 2024 performance, he noted that Asia, particularly India, and other emerging markets are contributing more strongly this year. “We are less dependent on individual countries, and that makes us more resilient,” he said.
The company employs 5,600 people worldwide, and Resch said KHS plans to continue expanding its workforce despite the overall climate in German mechanical engineering. Most of the new jobs will be created abroad, but investment and hiring will also continue in Germany, particularly at sites in Dortmund, Worms, and Hamburg.
On partnerships, Resch highlighted the strategic alliance with Ferrum Packaging. He said the two companies have not only signed a cooperation agreement but are also co-developing products, several of which are being introduced to the market in quick succession. He called this collaboration an example of how partnerships “take us one step further” and strengthen KHS’s competitive edge.
On sustainability, Resch underlined that KHS is targeting a 36% reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions and a 23% cut in scope 3, which includes machine use by customers. He noted that the adoption of renewable energy by customers is key to meeting these goals, as it directly lowers emissions in operation. “Scope 3 is the biggest share, and this is where we can make a difference together with our customers,” he said.
Resch concluded by emphasizing that, despite its international expansion, “KHS remains the core of a German company,” with global management rooted in its home base.
Technology highlights at drinktec 2025
At drinktec 2025, KHS presented innovations across can, PET, and glass filling, among others.
SmartCan Eco by KHS/Ferrum: a compact, hygienic and efficient filler/seamer block with a reduced hygiene area, simplified cleaning, and optimized design, ensuring maximum quality and economy in can filling.
InnoPET FreshSafe QuadBlock: the first system to integrate stretch blow molding, labelling, filling, and InnoPET Plasmax barrier technology. The block enables complete PET bottle manufacture with an integrated barrier coating, extending product shelf life and protection.
Innoclean Cascade-D and Innopas SX: a new bottle washer and enhanced tunnel pasteurizer for glass filling. Both systems embody high hygiene standards, energy-efficient operation, and reliable performance tailored to modern glass requirements. The Innoclean Cascade-D is designed as an efficient, flexible and operator-friendly solution, while the Innopas SX focuses on consistent pasteurization with optimized energy use.
