Krones wins two German Design Awards 2026

When design and innovation converge, the resulting solutions are not only functional, they’re inspiring. It’s something that Krones has accomplished twice over, earning two separate honours in the 2026 edition of the prestigious German Design Award. The interactive 3D showroom won in the Excellent Communications Design discipline, and the Central Operation Unit won for Excellent Product Design.

Both projects impressively demonstrate how Krones combines technology, sustainability and design to create a holistic user experience. The award ceremony will take place in February 2026 in Frankfurt am Main.

A new approach to product communication

Industry professionals and customers alike were impressed with the interactive 3D showroom on display at drinktec 2025 in Munich. It served as a digital showcase for the new Ingeniq PET line, allowing visitors to dive deep into the world of Krones.

Developed by Polypic GmbH, the tool provides a photorealistic, interactive means for users to experience Krones’ products. As in a video game, “players” use a standard controller to move through a virtual production hall, watch the machines in action, check out the details and call up additional information. This immersive presentation was built on the 3D development platform Unreal Engine 5.

Whether at trade shows, in sales presentations or in training courses, the 3D showroom offers a new and engaging form of product communication in a gaming environment.

“We want to inspire our customers with innovative solutions. And to best showcase those solutions, we need media that inspire,” explains Andreas Wurm, Team Lead for Media Solutions. “Our new 3D showroom takes product and brand presentation at Krones to a whole new level.”

Sustainability meets functionality

The second award also highlights Krones’ design philosophy, which consistently combines functionality and sustainability. The Central Operation Unit, which is part of the Ingeniq line, is an innovative workstation for monitoring beverage production lines. It centralises all software systems and enables operating personnel to quickly detect and remedy issues in the production process. As a result, downtimes can be minimised and energy consumption and CO₂ emissions reduced.

When developing the unit in collaboration with KMH GmbH, Krones placed great emphasis on sustainable design. It is made of recyclable lightweight materials that were originally developed for use on building facades, are free of harmful substances and meet the stringent hygiene standards of the food industry.

“The Central Operation Unit unites the digital and physical worlds. We have intentionally taken a completely new approach with it in terms of materials and manufacturing and in our design process,” stresses Dr. Christian Colceriu, Head of the Krones Design Lab.