"We are currently re-starting production of labelling machines at our plant in the United States, 20 years after we stopped it," Christoph Klenk told Reuters in an interview.

"But we are not planning to manufacture large volumes there," he added.

Klenk also said that a trade spat between the United States and the European Union could create some headaches for Krones in its efforts to win new business.

"But our customers won't get around investment in replacements," he said.

(Reporting by Alexander Huebner; Writing by Maria Sheahan; Editing by Christoph Steitz)