Krones Modulfill Filler Financing

Fill rate is the number the whole line is managed against. Every other station, from the blow molder upstream to the labeler and packer downstream, is sized to keep pace with the filler. The Krones Modulfill series is one of the most widely deployed rotary filling systems in the world for still and carbonated beverages in PET and glass, and it is engineered to match directly into the Krones block architecture. Available in HRS, HRF, and HRS-Foam variants for different product types, the Modulfill family covers output from roughly 10,000 to over 90,000 containers per hour depending on the filling principle and valve configuration. These are capital assets in the $400,000 to well over $1,000,000 range for new or recently rebuilt configurations, and used machines in good valve condition hold value because the demand for reliable, proven filling equipment is steady.

Financing a Modulfill is a transaction we handle regularly. The deal structure depends on whether you are buying new through Krones or a system integrator, acquiring a used machine from a broker or auction, or refinancing a machine already in service. Our minimum is $50,000, but virtually every Modulfill transaction lands well above that threshold. Application-only review is available up to roughly $400,000; larger deals require three months of business bank statements. Funding typically completes within one to two weeks.

The Modulfill as a Financing Asset

Lender familiarity with a piece of equipment shapes how the deal gets structured. The Modulfill benefits from being a well-documented, widely distributed machine with an active used market and a global parts network. Krones maintains its installed base carefully, and buyers of pre-owned Modulfill machines can source valves, drives, and wear parts with reasonable confidence. That parts availability matters in underwriting because it supports residual value assessments and makes the asset credible as collateral over a multi-year term.

The filling principle matters for condition assessment on used machines. HRS (still products, non-foamy) configurations differ from HRF (carbonated, foam-sensitive) machines in valve design and pressure management systems. A machine reconfigured for a different product family without proper valve replacement and calibration has degraded value. We work with buyers who understand what they are acquiring, and our process allows adequate time for inspection and mechanical verification before funds disburse.

Plants engaged in Beverage Bottling & Canning represent the primary market, but the Modulfill is also used in juice, dairy, and liquid food applications. The full Krones equipment line integrates with the Modulfill, and we can structure financing for a Modulfill alone or as part of a combined transaction that includes a blow molder, labeler, or inspector.

Financing Structure and Terms

Modulfill transactions at the used market level typically fall landing between $300k and $700k depending on valve count, vintage, and condition. New systems configured for high-output block installations run substantially more. For deals in the application-only window, a credit decision can come in 24 to 48 hours. Larger transactions move through underwriting in three to five business days once bank statements are submitted.

Terms range from 24 to 84 months. The useful life of a well-maintained Modulfill extends to 15 to 20 years in many cases, which supports longer term structures when borrower and deal profile allow. Monthly payment levels can be structured conservatively to protect cash flow during ramp-up periods, or compressed for buyers who want to build equity faster and reduce total interest cost.

Options available beyond a standard equipment loan include Equipment Leasing with a fair market value or dollar buyout at term end, and Sale-Leaseback for plants that own a Modulfill outright and want to recover working capital. Both structures are priced and documented cleanly, and the choice usually comes down to the plant's tax position and end-of-term preference for the equipment.

Buyers Who Finance Modulfill Systems

Contract packagers handling multiple beverage SKUs are among the most active Modulfill buyers. The machine's quick-change valve and format adjustment systems make it practical to run several different products without extended downtime, and the Contract Packaging & Co-Packers sector values that flexibility. Dedicated beverage producers expanding to a second line, regional bottlers replacing aging carousel fillers, and startup beverage brands commissioning their first captive production facility all appear in this buyer pool.

Credit profile is evaluated on the business as a whole. We consider B and C credit applicants. A plant with strong revenue but a complicated credit history is a workable transaction, especially when the asset is solid and the business has identifiable production contracts or purchase orders supporting volume. Time in business is considered but is not a hard barrier; newer operations with sufficient revenue and a clear production purpose can qualify.

If the Modulfill transaction is part of a broader line expansion that includes a Krones Innoket labeler or a Krones blow molder on the same project, we can structure those together to simplify documentation and reduce closing friction. Cross-machine financing on a single project is something we do regularly for plants that are commissioning a full line rather than replacing one isolated station.

Refinancing an Existing Modulfill

Plants that purchased a Modulfill outright, or paid down a prior loan to near zero, sometimes want to pull capital out of the machine without selling it. Equipment refinancing accomplishes this by placing a new lien against the machine at a loan-to-value ratio appropriate to current market value. The freed cash goes to operations, line upgrades, raw material inventory, or any other business purpose. The Modulfill stays running and generating throughput throughout the process.

Refinancing a machine that already has a lien is also possible. If the existing loan has a payoff balance below what the machine is worth, a new financing instrument pays the old lender, resets the term, and can in some cases generate net proceeds above the payoff. This is a useful structure for plants that financed a Modulfill several years ago at less favorable terms and now qualify for better rate and term combinations based on improved business performance.

Start Your Modulfill Financing Application

Describe the machine, your production situation, and what you are trying to accomplish. We will outline structure options and move to a term sheet quickly. No obligation to proceed.