Drinktec isn’t just a show to see new tech: it’s about learning how to apply it to help solve the key challenges in today’s beverage industry.
Sustainability is front and center of beverage operations. How can new innovations help drive efficiencies: with the additional benefits of cost savings?
Drinktec’s extensive supporting program sees experts take to the stage to share the latest research and techology and answer your questions.
Here’s some of the highlights.
Project Longevity: How Silicon Valley Revolutionizes Our Health - Why 100 is the New 80
Liquidrome Wave Stage, Monday 15th, 11am
Speaker: Thomas Schulz, chief reporter, Der Spiegel
Thomas Schulz has compiled exactly what we can do to slow down -or even stop - aging in numerous interviews with Nobel Prize winners and leading physicians, brain researchers and nutrition experts, biohackers and start-up founders.
His lecture will take the audience to the world’s most prestigious longevity research laboratories as well as to the corporate headquarters of Silicon Valley and answer the big question: Which factors have the greatest influence on healthy lifespan?
Panel discussion: Product innovation 2030…2050
Liquidrome Wave Stage, Wednesday 17th, 12 noon
Speakers: Jochen Matzer , Kaspar Althaus, Hendrik Freudenstein, Johanna Thoma
How can the toolbox for product innovation be adapted to the age of rapid communication, fast-moving products and rapidly changing consumer expectations? This group of speakers will explore unconventional thinking in order to expand the scenarios for product development.
Hops & Health – From Tradition to Latest Developments
Liquidrome Deep Dive Lounge, Wednesday 17th, 11am
Speaker: Martin Biendl, Head of R&D/Analytical Department, HHV (Hopsteiner Group)
Hops have been used for medicinal purposes since the Middle Ages. Antibacterial properties led to the plant being used as a preservative in beer brewing. Today, in medicine hops are only approved for its sleep-promoting action. But in recent years, interest in hops as a medicinal plant has grown considerably. The main focus has been on research into xanthohumol with a broad range of positive activities, e.g. prevention of obesity, diabetes or inflammatory diseases.
Panel discussion: Snapshot on solutions for the production of alcohol-free beer
Liquidrome Deep Dive Lounge, Wednesday 17th, 3pm
Brewers discuss the potential solutions for the production of alcohol-free beer
Supplement drinks: the new billion-dollar category between beverages and health
Liquidrome Wave Stage, Tuesday 16th, 3.30pm
Speaker: Georg Ferdinand Haschke, CEO and co-founder, Dr. Owl Health Drinks
The boundaries between the beverage and supplement industries are blurring. Today’s consumers expect more than just taste and refreshment – they are looking for noticeable health benefits, daily rituals and sustainable formats. Amidst this transformation, a new category is emerging: supplement drinks.
Where do functional drinks reach their growth limits: and where do supplement drinks enter?
Water Circularity
Liquidrome Wave Stage, Wednesday 17th, 4pm
Speaker: Julie Lindley, VP of R&D at Ecolab
In this keynote, Julie Lindley, VP of R&D at Ecolab, will explore how water circularity is transforming beverage manufacturing by integrating water, energy, and chemistry reuse into a holistic, data-driven approach.
Evolving recycled PET for circularity that performs without compromise
Liquidrome Wave Stage, Monday 15th, 3pm
Speaker: Eric Dehouck, Eastman Circular Solutions
This 20-minute presentation tells the story of industry collaboration to deliver 100% rPET bottles with virgin-like quality.
Influence of Climate Parameters like CO2- Content on Malt Quality Attribute pH
Liquidrome Wave Stage, Monday 15th, 1pm
Speaker: Martin Zarnkow
This talk investigates how long-term environmental changes may subtly affect malt quality, particularly pH. Drawing on data from two Bavarian maltings, it highlights emerging trends and raises questions about the role of atmospheric CO₂ and other climate-related factors.
Pulp bottles: vision, possibilities, opportunities, limitations
Liquidrome Wave Stage, Tuesday 16th, 2pm
Speaker: Jörg Zacharias, Krones
In the search for new sustainable packaging solutions the pulp bottle has been proposed as a possible solution in recent years. The goal to reach a bio-based, biodegradable, and yet recyclable solution for beverage containers.
Simpler, affordable and more secure AI-powered Deposit Return System
Liquidrome Wave Stage, Wednesday 17th, 1.30pm
Speaker: Peter Knaz, Sensoneo
Smart DRS is an evolution of how we return bottles and cans, overcoming the limitations of traditional systems.
The system uses a unique identification code, printed or laser-engraved on each cap or lid. This allows beverage packaging to be crushed, significantly reducing investment and operational costs for stakeholders.
Net-zero becoming reality: Best practice examples for beverage producers
Liquidrome Wave Stage, Thursday, 18th, 11.30am
Speakers: Isabel Osterroth, Jürgen Dietrich, GEA
How to take climate goals into action: from modernizing existing sites to building net zero plants – hear about best practices, solutions and benefits on the path to carbon neutral production.
Real-Time Data in the Beverage Industry Without Scanning: Success Stories from Asahi to Warsteiner
Liquidrome Wave Stage, Wednesday 16th, 2pm
Speaker: Dr Martin Welp, IdentPro
Drawing on real success stories from companies like Asahi and Warsteiner, Dr Welp will explore how real-time data, digital twins, and IoT sensor technology are being used.
The secret ingredient to digital transformation in F&B
Liquidrome Deep Dive Lounge, Monday 15th, 1.30pm
Explore the critical role of digital responsibility in the food and beverage sector in this panel discussion. This session will highlight the intersection of technology, ethics, and sustainability: delving into how digital solutions can shape a more responsible and transparent food and beverage ecosystem.
Faster Factories: Hyperautomation for a New Era of Manufacturing
Liquidrome Wave Stage, Tuesday 16th, 10.30am
Speaker: Annie Lu, H20k Innovations
AI-enabled, in-line spectrometry is helping Unilever, AB Inbev, and Coca-Cola cut cleaning and changeovers by over 15% while reducing water, chemical, and energy usage by over 10%, saving hundreds of thousands of euros annually.
Learn how H2Ok’s science-led innovation can rapidly scale within and across factories to help reclaim more production uptime from not just CIP, but also reduce downtime by detecting errors, checking product consistency in real-time to help run faster, more sustainable factories.
Plant proteins in drinks: Challenges and chances in product development
Liquidrome Wave Stage, Friday 19th, 11.30am
Speaker: Christian Zacherl, Fraunhofer IVV
This presentation provides insights into the development of tailor-made plant proteins specifically for use in beverages. Innovative solutions for optimizing sensory and functional properties will be presented, particularly for plant-based milk alternatives and functional protein drinks.transparency and efficiency from returnables to filled goods.