HEUFT and Coca-Cola FEMSA: A Partnership for Quality!
March 9, 2026
State-of-the-art inspection systems ensure the product safety of the nearly 100 SKUs bottled each month at the Brazilian plant in Porto Alegre.
Coca-Cola FEMSA’s new plant in Porto Alegre boasts state-of-the-art facilities, making it one of the most productive sites in the global Coca-Cola system. Among the most important technologies used in the new plant is the state-of-the-art inspection equipment, comprising a total of 15 inspection units provided by HEUFT as part of a long-standing global partnership with Coca-Cola.
Nine HEUFT inspectors are installed on the returnable bottle line, including the ASEBI, currently the most advanced inspection system for empty bottles worldwide. Installed downstream of the bottle washing system, it inspects returnable bottles coming back from the market and ensures that only flawless containers are used.
One of the main reasons for complaints from the market is bottles that have lost their carbonation. To ensure the bottles are suitable for use, the HEUFT inspection systems check everything from contamination on the empty bottle to micro-holes and leaks that can occur during transport from the market and lead to such a loss of carbonation. With the HEUFT inspection systems, the plant has been able to significantly reduce this type of problem since installation and bring complaints down to practically zero.
“HEUFT was the first inspection equipment manufacturer we contacted when we began working on the purchase specifications. Even in a time of crisis like the one we are currently experiencing, we have never compromised on quality; moreover, the partnership and trust in HEUFT’s equipment were decisive in our immediate decision to adopt this technology.”
Rodrigo Jonko – Production Manager at Coca-Cola FEMSA in Porto Alegre.
Flexibility and Productivity
In total, five filling lines there are equipped with HEUFT inspection systems, including one canning line, three PET lines, and one returnable bottle line. Flexibility and productivity are the highlights of the latter line. It achieves high productivity rates even with the large number of product changes—nearly 100 SKUs are filled monthly. Quality assurance and a positive cycle are guaranteed by this inspection system.
The HEUFT system features touchscreen control panels that display all products and their respective inspection concepts, enabling the operator to make quick adjustments based on production requirements.
“Coca-Cola FEMSA in Porto Alegre has made significant technological strides, and thanks to HEUFT, we can ensure the highest quality standards required by the Coca-Cola system, thereby delivering a quality product to our consumers that we are very proud of,” summarizes Production Manager Rodrigo Jonko. “With the return to normal production, we are Brazil’s most productive bottler, and the HEUFT systems ensure the outstanding quality of our products.”
Source in Portuguese: https://engarrafadormoderno.com.br/uma-parceria-de-qualidade
