Mühlacker (DE)/Sibiu (RO), 20 March 2025 – Craiss Generation Logistik GmbH & Co. KG is expanding its logistics infrastructure in Romania. At its Sibiu site, the company has put into operation a new washing system for returnable transport containers that was specially developed for a customer from the automotive industry. With an innovative water recycling system and digital process control, the company is setting new standards in container logistics. The system can clean a large number of containers of different types and contributes to the optimisation of supply chains.
“The new washing system increases the efficiency of our logistics processes and enables a more reliable supply of cleaned containers for our customers,” says Michael Craiss, Managing Partner of Craiss Generation Logistik GmbH & Co. KG. As a result of this project, the Craiss location in Sibiu is gaining in strategic importance for the company: the city is a central hub for supplying Eastern European production locations, and the direct connection to the Craiss network enables the faster provision of cleaned containers.
Rapid implementation
The system was planned, built and put into operation within just six months. As explained by Horia Matei, Managing Director of Craiss Romania: “The challenge was to implement the technical infrastructure efficiently while, at the same time, recruiting and training qualified employees.” More than 65 employees in total are responsible for operating the system seven days a week in a two-shift system.
Modern cleaning technology
The stationary system in Sibiu can clean up to 800 containers per hour. The cleaning process is flexibly adapted to over 400 different packaging types, which differ in size, shape and interior features. These include different trays, lid variants and pallet configurations, which can vary depending on the customer's requirements.
The system works with high-pressure cleaning systems and fully automated washing processes that guarantee a consistent cleaning quality. The containers are fed in manually before going through the wash cycle. It also has two tracks with adjustable width to allow the efficient cleaning of various small load carriers of different heights and widths. Depending on the degree of soiling, the system settings can be flexibly adjusted to ensure thorough cleaning. Special drying units ensure that the containers are ready for use again immediately after cleaning.
Sophisticated cycle
The entire container cycle is designed for maximum efficiency: incoming emp-ties are first sorted by Craiss, then have their labels removed and are prepared for cleaning. They are then put into storage until the production plants need the containers. After use, they are once again collected, sorted, cleaned and put back into storage before being sent to suppliers across Europe for reuse. This closed system ensures a constant flow of materials and guarantees that there are always enough cleaned containers available.
“The system combines precise cleaning technology with intelligent process control, thereby establishing new standards in container logistics,” emphasises Horia Matei. The new technology brings particularly noticeable advantages in the automotive industry, where clean, reusable containers are crucial for smooth production processes.
Water recycling
One central element of the washing process is the water recycling system. Thanks to a multi-stage treatment process that enables the water to be reused, it can remain in circulation for up to four weeks, which significantly reduces the consumption of fresh water. What’s more, residues from the washing process are disposed of separately in order to further minimise environmental pollution.
The intention is also to optimise the system’s energy consumption: Craiss is planning to install a photovoltaic system, which is to be put into operation this year. This will cover a significant part of the wash system's electricity require-ments and further improve the life cycle assessment.
As explained by Michael Craiss: “Sustainability is an important part of our logistics strategy. Thanks to the reduced water consumption and the planned photovoltaic system, we are reducing not only our resource requirements but also our operating costs over the long term.”
Transparency through digitalisation
The digitalisation of processes also plays a central role: the system is connected to an online platform that enables customers to monitor their container stocks in real time. This transparency facilitates production planning and helps to avoid bottlenecks in the supply chain – especially for critical products with low stock levels.
In addition, the system automatically records process data from the cleaning processes. Horia Matei says: “Systematic data collection and analysis enable us to continuously improve our system performance.”