Water from the Carpathian Mountains – now with high-speed technology from Krones

AQUA Carpatica, named the leading Romanian brand in the 2025 national BrandRo ranking, offers a notable variety of products: from still to sparkling and even flavored mineral water, bottled in glass, PET and cans. Since 2013, Krones and Carpathian Springs have built a close partnership, with seven lines already up and running – for both glass and PET bottles in various sizes and for cans alike. “We have always valued our partnership with Krones. Their commitment to quality, technical expertise, and understanding of the unique requirements of our products has enabled us to continually innovate and maintain the highest standards in every bottle we deliver”, declared CEO Jean Valvis. 

Now, the leader of the still mineral water market has taken its production to the next level, installing a line equipped with an ErgoBloc L and marking the debut of high-speed production in Carpathian Springs’ operations. 

Carpathian Springs needed a line that could deliver top performance, on a limited footprint, while also handling the brand’s signature angular bottles. These distinctive bottles are a consumer favorite – but from a technical standpoint, far from standard. 

High-speed meets individuality 

The ErgoBloc L offered the ideal solution: A compact unit that integrates stretch blow molding, filling, labeling, and capping into one seamless process. “Choosing Krones for this new high-speed line was a natural step. Their solutions not only accommodate our distinctive angular bottles but also ensure optimal performance on a compact footprint, making it possible to keep moving forward as leaders in our market,” stated vice president Dan Ghejan . The line for Carpathian Springs is dimensioned for 60,000 PET bottles per hour – a quantum leap from the previous technology, which operates in the range of 30,000 bottles per hour. To reliably handle the angular bottles at higher speeds, Krones implemented several targeted adjustments: The labeler was modified to precisely orient the flat surfaces for perfect label application, while a buffer between the filler and packer ensures stability. Also the cap feed unit was optimized to smoothly sort and apply the 38-millimeter closures.

Digital monitoring for maximum performance 

Alongside maximum speed and reliability, Carpathian Springs also benefits from digital intelligence: Krones’ Advanced Analytics solution. The software visualizes key performance indicators (KPIs) across all connected machines, creating a solid foundation for continuous improvement. “With the integration of Advanced Analytics, we are taking an important step toward smarter production. We expect greater transparency, data-driven insights, and continuous improvement across all our operations, further enhancing the quality and consistency of AQUA Carpatica,” stated vice president Oana Hrițcu. 

The result is this filling line that not only reflects the character of the brand but also perfectly translates its quality standard into shopfloor reality. 

Installed in summer and already in operation with a saleable product by October, the line marks a new chapter for Carpathian Springs. With its first high-speed line from Krones, the company can now bring its iconic angular bottles to market faster than ever – while gaining new flexibility for the future.