Krones AG redefines factory floor collaboration with Windows 365 Link

Bringing one-stop shop support to global customers

The container holding the refreshing beverage you’re enjoying was very likely manufactured on equipment supplied by Krones, a worldwide provider of liquid packaging technology. That packaging is the result of intense innovation and a commitment to sustainable manufacturing. Touting its “solutions beyond tomorrow,” Krones designs and creates end-to-end machine solutions used to process, fill, and package liquid consumer goods across the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. It also delivers fast, individualized customer support along with factory planning, IT, industrial control, and automation services.

Small wonder that Krones, an early adopter of Microsoft solutions, quickly and adroitly adopted cloud technology to maximize office worker effectiveness and experience. It wanted to mirror that improvement for its frontline workers who access applications and data throughout the day while moving from workstation to workstation across a huge campus. Shared PC devices had served factory floor teams well, but were no longer the best fit.

Leaning into its innovative strength and close Microsoft relationship to create a new paradigm for frontline worker productivity, Krones envisioned a new device that would be as easy to use as it was secure and cost-effective.

Shrinking the distance between the cloud and the factory floor

In the past, up to 10 Krones frontline workers shared a single PC device and one user account, incurring both device and support costs, security risk, and a lot of inconvenience. Frontline workers needed to sign in repeatedly as they moved from station to station. The company’s Windows 365 adoption shone a bright light on the divide between cloud convenience and the expense, inconvenience, and support burden of conventional PC hardware in that setting. Offering a secure Windows 11 desktop experience via the Microsoft Cloud, Windows 365 was the way forward, but accessing it with Krones-approved security required a dedicated desktop or laptop device.  

“We needed a purpose-built device on the shop floor that could fit our new, collaborative approach,” recalls Roman Kleyn, Head of Workplace Design at Krones. His team found that puzzle piece with Windows 365 Link, a Cloud PC device purpose-built to connect securely to Windows 365 in seconds. “Windows 365 Link devices were exactly the solution we envisioned to enable our workers to access their assets in the cloud.” 

Gaining big value from a small device

At less than 5 inches square and slightly more than an inch thick, the Windows 365 Link weighs less than a pound and take up negligible desktop real estate. The Krones team deployed them to 50 workstations used by hundreds of frontline workers participating in the initial rollout in record time, managing them with Microsoft Intune. “We unboxed our Windows 365 Link devices, deployed the Wi-Fi certificate that enabled connectivity to our network, and they were operational in minutes,” says Michael Meier, Senior Systems Administrator at Krones. “They’re native to Intune, so configuration is unnecessary.”

From the frontline worker perspective, Windows 365 Link is just as automatic—and highly rewarding. “Windows 365 Link enables a lot of cool new work scenarios,” continues Meier. “It solves all of the issues that hamper reprovisioning a PC device and makes life easier for workers and IT support people.” Positive feedback from the frontline workers is commonplace for Janine Jobst, Senior System Administrator at Krones. “Every worker defines their own Windows 365 Cloud PC,” she explains. “They choose the software and peripherals they need, and access that complete environment from wherever they’re working without multiple sign-ins.” Krones frontline worker Verena Griesbeck, CNC lathe operator adds, “A reliable workplace is crucial to producing the needed parts in time. Now we each easily access our own Cloud PC via Windows 365 Link. We don’t have to worry that someone else will access our data.”

Teamwork advances don’t just make Krones more efficient—they enhance the experience and commitment for workers across the company. “Using Windows 365 Link helps me feel more connected with my team because collaboration is so much easier,” says Timo Muench, Project Manager at Krones. “That gives me a stronger sense of belonging and satisfaction in my role. I feel more productive, more engaged.”