Assu extracts its mineral water from nearby springs in the dense forests of the Turkish town Bolu. The firm’s own premium-quality aspirations are reflected in the natural taste of its still water. In order to maintain this high standard, Assu needs the right partner to support them. That was why the company reached out to Krones in late 2016. Mere months later, in early 2017, they started up a 50,000-bph PET line. By April 2021, another two Krones lines had been added to the production facility, one of them filling five-litre containers. Over the years, the two companies have been able to consolidate their partnership, demonstrating how strategic ambition and technical expertise complement each other to perfection.
Thanks to a new factory hall, new drinks are making their way into Assu’s portfolio. The Turkish family firm, a bottler of still water, is massively expanding its product range, with Krones supplying six lines for cans and PET containers.
New perspectives on the beverage market
In 2024, Assu decided to massively expand its product portfolio, with the goal of supplying the market in future not only with still water, but also with a variety of fruit juices, iced teas and CSDs like energy drinks and carbonated water. Assu would then be able to cover almost the entire range of non-alcoholic drinks – with Krones delivering fit-for-purpose solutions for all of them. “The cooperation between Assu and Krones had already been extremely successful and harmonious in the past. The fact that Assu once more chose us as their supplier underlines the company’s trust in the service and technology we provide,” emphasises Stefan Bierschneider, the project manager responsible at Krones.
Six lines were ordered for this mega-project, with two of them, each featuring an ErgoBloc L for still water, already delivered in summer 2025. The scope of supply covers another three lines for PET containers (one of them a standard CSD line, the second featuring an ErgoBloc L and the third the NitroHotfill process), plus a canning line. These four are scheduled for delivery, installation and commissioning at monthly intervals as from January 2026. That means the entire production hall will be fully operational in early June.
A joy to look at – space-saving layout and appealing new bottle design
For its still-water production, Assu relies on its ErgoBloc L wet-end blocks, each of which handles up to 55,000 containers per hour. Three of the new lines feature such a block, promising fast and highly efficient production on an ultra-small footprint.
With the NitroHotfill process, Assu can also introduce new types of refreshing drinks, ranging from fruit juices and soft drinks right through to a number of iced teas. This line, rated at 35,000 PET containers per hour, enables the company to cover a broad product portfolio.
The multifaceted range on offer is complemented by another canning line, filling both classic CSDs and energy drinks. And last but not least, a standard PET line rounds off Krones’ scope of supply, thus providing a comprehensive set of equipment for handling Assu’s new non-alcoholic product range.
Krones technology likewise ensures the products’ perfect visual appeal. The carbonated soft drinks filled on one of the new PET lines are specifically earmarked for the premium segment and the catering sector. What’s special about them is their thrillingly different design. The cone-shaped bottles are the reason why Assu opted for pressure-sensitive labels instead of the customary wrap-around labels. The Ergomodul labeller featuring Autocol stations for front and back makes sure that each label is precisely fitted to the bottle’s challenging shape. In order to maintain maximum flexibility, the Ergomodul is additionally equipped with a Contiroll station for wrap-around labels.
“The fact that we were chosen to be part of Assu’s massive expansion project and its correspondingly upsized market presence is a powerful endorsement of Krones in Turkey,” emphasises Stefan Bierschneider. “And needless to say, we’re always there for our Turkish customers to support them: Thanks to the comprehensive range of services provided by Krones Makina in Istanbul, we can at all times offer them the best and fastest service.” It’s a definite win-win situation which is to be kept up in future as well.
