Right from the very beginning, the Fiedler family has relied on continuous investment in modern production technologies to ensure the lasting high quality of its regional speciality beers. The independent brewery is now reinforcing this approach with yet another milestone – as the very first customer to put Kosme Germany’s new Flectra labeller into operation. Expectations for this machine generation were high – and were even exceeded after just a short time in daily production.
Continuous modernisation as the key to success
The partnership between Kosme Germany and the Privatbrauerei Fiedler dates right back to 1990. At that time, Kosme Germany GmbH was still operating under the name Gernep GmbH Etikettiertechnik. Even after the rebranding in March 2026, the close and trusting collaboration remained unchanged. Christian Fiedler, senior partner at the brewery, recalls: “I’ve known Gernep, now Kosme Germany, since 1990. Back then, I purchased my first cold glue labeller – a Gernep Labetta. It was followed ten years later by another machine with improved labelling station technology. That machine went on to serve us reliably for 25 years.” After a quarter of a century in service, the time had finally come to replace the proven system with a new generation.
The history of Privatbrauerei Fiedler shows that investments have always been viewed as the foundation for quality and success. The family has always placed the utmost importance on having a modern production facility to brew first-class beers. The success of this consistent strategic focus is also reflected in the development of the brewery’s output volume: Whereas around 2,800 hectolitres of beer were produced back in 1966, today the brewery’s output volume is approximately 17,000 hectolitres. At the same time, the product range has been continuously expanded and now includes not only classic speciality beers, but also seasonal beers and non-alcoholic beverages ranging from water to woodruff lemonade.
At a time when Kosme Germany was driving the development of the new generation of Flectra labellers, the brewery made a conscious decision to purchase the prototype. “It goes without saying that a decision to go with a prototype always involves risks. But our long-standing and trusting partnership with Kosme Germany, along with the convincing overall concept, gave us confidence right from the start. Being the first company to put the Kosme Flectra into operation was an exciting experience for us. We’re all the more pleased that our expectations have been met 100 percent,” explains Thomas Fiedler, the current sixth-generation owner.
The first Kosme Flectra delivers on its promise
The new Flectra generation of labellers was developed at the two Kosme sites in Germany and Italy in collaboration with the parent company, Krones, and showcased at the 2025 drinktec trade exhibition in Munich. The Flectra uniquely combines the long-standing labeller expertise of both companies and marks the first step in the ongoing development of the Krones Compact Class business unit, which is made up of four Kosme entities. The Flectra labellers sold by Kosme Germany continue to be “Made in Germany”. As usual, the machines are designed and manufactured at the Barbing facility in Bavaria.
The Fiedler family requirements for the new labeller were the same as those for a conventional cold glue labeller designed for brewery applications. The Flectra handles two different bottle sizes (0.33 l / 0.5 l long-neck bottles) with a body, back and neck-around label. With this in mind, the machine was equipped with two modern cold glue labelling stations to precisely label the required 10,000 bottles per hour.
Compared to the Gernep Labetta, the new generation of labellers from Kosme Germany is no longer driven mechanically, but instead entirely by brushless servo motors. This offers countless benefits which were already clearly evident after just a short operating time.
The servo-driven infeed worm ensures optimal feed conditions for the round beer bottles. Thanks to it, a mechanical infeed stop is no longer required. Particularly when it comes to specially-shaped containers, this solution offers significant advantages through precise guidance and a considerably smoother feed of containers into the machine labelling carousel.
The bottle plates are also driven directly by servo motors. For example, the positions at which the bottles are rotated can be freely defined for each container type, saved on the touch-screen and called up again in the form of a recipe during type change-over. This not only offers a high degree of flexibility through optimal container rotation for applying labels of various lengths, but also ensures a significantly smoother and more consistent production process.
The new servo-driven cold glue labelling stations are characterised by their smooth operation and improved labelling accuracy. Among other things, precisely fitted polygonal shafts and Krones manufactured glue pallets ensure uniform and extremely economical glue application. The use of the servo drive means there is no need for vulnerable mechanical gearboxes, universal joint shafts and the complex cross slide.
Thanks to the servomotor components, Privatbrauerei Fiedler now benefits from considerably greater flexibility. A particularly significant advantage is the reduced mechanical wear on many components, which leads to a substantial long‑term reduction in both costs and maintenance work. In addition, the new labyrinth seal between the bottle plates and the servo motors significantly increases the operational reliability of the Kosme Flectra, as it is far less susceptible to disturbances and external influences.
To ensure optimal results, Kosme Germany also offers a wide selection of modern orientation and monitoring systems that can be flexibly adapted to a wide variety of customer requirements. However, many customers already have proven solutions from third-party manufacturers and would like to continue using them. Therefore upon request, the machines can be configured to operate with compatible systems, and existing components can be seamlessly integrated. The new Flectra also demonstrates its strength here through its high level of flexibility. At Brauerei Fiedler, the existing label inspection unit originating from a third-party manufacturer was successfully integrated into the new line. It reliably checks for the presence of labels, barcodes and dates, thereby ensuring consistent quality control throughout the production process.
A consistent focus was on user-friendliness during the development of this machine generation. It is therefore equipped with a flat, high-performance touch-screen featuring a new intuitive user interface and an integrated button bar. Maximum flexibility is ensured thanks to the newly developed swivel arm, which allows the touch-screen to be positioned up to 270° around the labeller. The compact, omega-shaped design also ensures excellent accessibility. Newly designed folding doors at the infeed and discharge, along with a lift-guard on the operator side, make change-overs and cleaning remarkably simple. As a result, the machine combines countless benefits for the operator with a modern, appealing product design.
Production start after one week of commissioning
After installing the new Flectra labeller, production was back up and running smoothly after just one week. Throughout commissioning, experienced Kosme Germany service engineers were on hand to support the production start‑up and guarantee a seamless transition from the Gernep Labetta to the Kosme Flectra.
Early experience in day‑to-day production has been overwhelmingly positive. Master Brewer Sebastian Fiedler is very satisfied with the results: “After just one week, there have already been significant improvements in performance and labelling quality. The machine not only operates at a higher speed than its predecessor but is also noticeably quieter and smoother. At the same time, the labels sit perfectly and reliably – all with noticeably lower adhesive consumption.“ This provides Privatbrauerei Fiedler with higher efficiency and a more sustainable, resource‑efficient operation.
Beyond the performance gains, the new system stands out with its state-of‑the‑art safety standards. Compared to its 25‑year‑old predecessor, the new system incorporates a host of technical and safety‑related innovations that simplify everyday work and deliver a significantly higher level of employee safety.
The manufacturer also views the successful commissioning as a key milestone. Johannes Gstettner, Managing Director of Kosme Germany GmbH, emphasises: “The new Flectra labeller has been extremely well received by the market. We are thrilled with how many machines have already been sold and will soon be put into operation. The successful installation of the first machine at Privatbrauerei Fiedler shows that our development approach was spot‑on. With the Flectra, we are delivering a powerful labelling solution that helps producers achieve outstanding end‑product quality throughout their production process.”
What makes this project particularly special is the successful collaboration between the generations within the Fiedler brewery. Three generations of the family are working side by side, each bringing unique experience and fresh perspectives that drive the brewery’s ongoing development. This close collaboration was also clear in the decision to choose the new labeller, as all generations worked hand in hand to pave the way for the successful future of the family business.
