Microsoft, NVIDIA & Krones: AI Improving Beverage Production

Krones is using agentic digital twins which it says improves efficiency in its beverage production operations. 

The digital twins integrate AI agents that combine physically accurate real-time simulations with artificial intelligence capable of reasoning and decision-making.

The partners collaborating with Krones on the technology include CADFEM, Microsoft, NVIDIA and SoftServe. The company says its aim is to “set a new standard” for digital transformation in manufacturing.

How do digital twins work in bottling?

Fluid processing demands precise coordination of constantly changing physical processes, from filling speed to bottle design to fluid dynamics. Parameters such as pressure, flow, and turbulence must be monitored, predicted and optimised in real time to avoid waste or disruptions downstream.

Krones says that the digital twins have fundamentally transformed its machine and plant simulations in just two months.

With its partners, Krones has developed a physically accurate digital twin application capable of completing simulations in less than five minutes. Before, the simulations would take three to four hours. 

Krones says the high-precision physics simulations to model liquid behaviour during the filling process can design and interact with physically accurate virtual replicas of bottling facilities in real time. This accelerates decision making and optimisation in its bottling processes. 

Gabriele Eder, General Manager Manufacturing at Microsoft Germany, says: “With our trusted Microsoft Azure, Krones accelerates and scales its innovations through AI-powered tools and technologies.

"Together, we’re creating the solutions of today and the breakthroughs of tomorrow.”

Autonomous learning

The digital twin application learns which configurations yield optimal results autonomously.

The best solutions are then transferred directly to the physical machines, enabling real-time comparisons, instant implementation of optimisations and smarter resource use. 

Naomi Betz, Senior Account Manager, Manufacturing & Industry (DACH) at NVIDIA, says: “With real-time digital twins powered by OpenUSD, NVIDIA Omniverse libraries and accelerated computing, Krones is pioneering a new era of precision engineering.”

According to NVIDIA, Universal Scene Description (OpenUSD) encompasses a collection of fundamental components and capabilities that accelerate workflows, teams and projects. It was invented by Pixar Animation Studios, and enables the development of AI in 3D worlds. 

Breakthrough for the manufacturing sector

Markus Tischer, Member of Krones' Executive Board, says: “With the Agentic Digital Twins, we are demonstrating that digitalisation and AI are not just visions for the future but deliver tangible efficiency gains and sustainable benefits today.

“Together with our partners, we are setting new benchmarks for the beverage industry.”

Krones says that the technology marks a breakthrough for the manufacturing sector. Until now, digital twins have worked in close collaboration with human expertise and judgment, relying on operators to guide decisions and interpret results. 

This new type of digital twins, however, leverages autonomous reasoning, decision-making and action capabilities to respond to real-time data and trigger workflows automatically.