TIBET - Deep in the Himalayan Mountains, 14,000 feet (4,300 metres) above sea level, the world's newest and highest water bottling facility fills, seals, labels, and ships water sourced from a remote glacial spring.

The Tibet Glacier Mineral Water Company Ltd required a bottling facility close to its source, a remote glacial spring in order to protect the integrity of its virtually contaminate-free water.

For this purpose, Krones, a packaging and bottling systems manufacturer, built a greenfield facility, housing a complete Krones bottling line, near the Tibetan capital of Lhasa. The bottling line went into operation this July.

At a speed of 24,000 bph, square 330-ml PET bottles are blow-moulded using the Contiform S14 stretch blow-moulding machine, filled, and dressed in OPP wrap-around labels. The Tibet Glacier Mineral Water Company Ltd also has plans for either round or square 600-ml PET bottles.

Altitude Challenges
According to Krones, altitude played a significant role during the installation process. Krones made several modifications and conducted multiple rounds of testing to make its bottling equipment line strong enough to perform optimally at high altitude.

The ratings for all drives had to be chosen at least 20 per cent higher than for drives operating under "standard conditions”. The stretch blow-moulding machine’s air consumption is significantly higher as well. At sea level, it would be 581 m³/h; at 14,000 feet, by contrast, it reaches 999 m³/h. The high-performance compressor also supplied by Krones is for this reason rated at 170 per cent, while the chiller for the Contiform provides 25 per cent extra output.

Since Tibet Glacier Mineral Water Co. Ltd. intends to sell the water in lower-situated regions as well, right down to sea level, the bottles have to stand up to a pressure differential of about 0.4 bar (corresponding to a height differential of about 13,000 feet), an important consideration in designing the bottle. In addition, Krones had to come up with counter-measures to any tendencies to bottle deformation. The PET bottles are accordingly filled as brimful as possible, since the liquid cannot be compressed as much as the air in the bottle’s headspace.

Tibet Glacier Mineral Water Co. Ltd. was established in October 2005 in Dangxiong County, Lhasa City, Tibet. It aims to become the largest mineral water producer in Tibet and to build an international brand using Tibetan resources.

Krones Inc. is the United States subsidiary of Krones AG, Neutraubling, Germany. Krones' products include a comprehensive portfolio of PET bottle stretch blow molders; rinsers and bottle washers, mixers and blenders, fillers, pasteurizers, labelers and sleevers, palletizers and depalletizers; packers and unpackers for PET, glass and cans; inspection systems; and conveying systems for containers, packs and pallets.