Krones deepens its Windows commitment to modernize a global workforce with Windows 365

Krones needed a secure, cloud-delivered Windows strategy to support 20,000 global employees, eliminate VDI overhead, simplify patch management across shift-based production environments, and streamline IT during acquisitions.

It replaced legacy VDI with Windows 365 Cloud PCs managed through Microsoft Intune, deployed Windows 365 Link on the production floor, and adopted Hotpatching to deliver background security updates without disrupting shift-based workers.

Krones spends far less time on endpoint management, employees access personalized desktops instantly from any device, and the organization collaborates seamlessly across 160 countries with a single, consistent Windows environment.

For 75 years, Krones has been engineering the machinery behind the world's beverage bottles, guaranteeing performance from installation through the entire lifecycle. That kind of ambition demands an internal IT environment built to match.

With more than 20,000 employees worldwide, Krones needed a modern, stable IT foundation. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) created heavy administrative overhead and made it difficult to deliver a consistent global employee experience, while shared devices left IT teams with no reliable window to apply security updates. Krones needed a cloud-delivered Windows strategy that could support its global workforce, its production teams, and its growing number of acquisitions.

“Krones has been building on Windows for many, many years. It has always been our first choice. When Windows 365 became available, we immediately stepped in. It was the obvious next step for us.”

Roman Kleyn, Head of IT Workplace Design, Krones

Building on a proven Windows foundation

“Sustainability and digitalization are our main drivers,” says Bernd Hagmanns, Head of Corporate Development and IT at Krones. “Without digitalization, you can’t offer the kind of business model we have built.” For Roman Kleyn, Head of IT Workplace Design at Krones, Windows has always been the foundation. “Krones has been building on Windows for many, many years. It has always been our first choice,” he says. “When Windows 365 became available, we immediately stepped in. It was the obvious next step for us.”

The company replaced its traditional VDI environment with Windows 365, delivering Cloud PCs that give employees secure access from wherever they work. “Traditional VDI always meant a lot of extra work for IT,” Kleyn says. “Windows 365 gives us the opportunity to deliver any configuration to our employees, whether they’re developers, production workers, or information workers, and they can use it anywhere on any device.”

“The main advantage of Windows 365 is that everybody works with the same solution, not only our employees. They can use it in every project, in every country. Our partners and vendors can use the same things, and so we can collaborate really efficiently.”

Bernd Hagmanns, Head of Corporate Development and IT, Krones

A consistent experience from desk to production floor

Krones moved to cloud-only endpoint management with Microsoft Intune, giving IT real-time visibility across the global device fleet, removing VPN dependencies, and replacing several third-party tools in the process. With Intune Remote Help and Intune Endpoint Privilege Management, the team can support users more efficiently from the same unified platform. “Intune is the backbone of our endpoint management,” Kleyn explains. “It gives us a holistic view of all our endpoints worldwide from one central platform, and Windows 365 integrates with Intune and expands that view even further.” And with Microsoft Entra ID, Krones connects device compliance with identity, ensuring only verified users and compliant devices can access company resources.

As Krones grows its Windows strategy, Hotpatching has become a key part of how it keeps devices secure and employees productive, applying security updates silently without requiring restarts or interrupting the workday—saving an estimated 10 to 15 minutes per month. “Hotpatch installs the updates in the background, so we have no disruptions for the end users, and they love being secure and up to date,” Kleyn says.

Windows 365 Link gives workers like Verena Griesbeck, CNC Lathe Operator at Krones, a personal Windows 365 Cloud PC experience at every shared workstation across the facility. “Now you can use your own desktop on any machine you want,” she says. “You can get started working faster.”

“The main advantage of Windows 365 is that everybody works with the same solution, not only our employees,” Hagmanns notes. “They can use it in every project, in every country. Our partners and vendors can use the same things, and so we can collaborate really efficiently.”

“Before, on the old system, it took me 15 to 20 minutes to log in. Now, with Windows 365 it takes two or three minutes—my job has become easier because I have my own personalized desktop on every computer I log into.”

Verena Griesbeck, CNC Lathe Operator, Krones

A modernized workforce and a roadmap for what's ahead

The results of Krones' expanded Windows strategy have been felt across the entire organization. “Windows 365 Link has been great for our production workers, enabling them to use their badges to log in straight away to their Cloud PCs, and pick up where they leave off as they move through the production floor," Kleyn says. "Microsoft kept the promise of delivering a secure and purpose-built device with a great end user experience.”

For Griesbeck, the impact is concrete. “Before, on the old system, it took me 15 to 20 minutes to log in,” she says. “Now, with Windows 365, it takes two or three minutes—my job has become easier because I have my own personalized desktop on every computer I log into.”

Looking ahead, the foundation Krones has built with Windows is positioning the company to pilot Copilot+ PCs and explore Intune agents to further streamline IT operations. Hagmanns concludes. “This is not only good for our business models and our productivity, but also for attracting future employees.”

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