Rockwell Automation Collaborated with McRae Integration to Develop FactoryTalk Brew for Large Brewers

Author photo: Craig Resnick
ByCraig Resnick
Category:
Company and Product News

Rockwell Automation released a new FactoryTalk Brew solution that can help breweries manage the challenges associated with risk, quality, costs, and inefficiencies to gain a competitive edge.

The FactoryTalk Brew solution is based on the PlantPAx distributed control system from Rockwell Automation.  It enables large brewers to standardize and fully automate production, gain an information platform for reporting and recipe management, and tie together information from the automation layer to the MES layer.  It can also integrate enterprise-level automation and information to enable The Connected Enterprise and help inform business decisions.  The new offering provides a solution to brewers that struggled to build a software layer on their automation platform or had to build an automation platform from scratch.

During production, operators can access the solution from any device and can pull data with reporting parameters already in place.  This enables operators to quickly respond to any process or batch issues that may occur – which is critical for larger brewers that have little room for error.

Working in collaboration with McRae Integration, Rockwell Automation leveraged its existing DCS platform to deliver FactoryTalk Brew, a solution for the specific needs of the brewing industry.  The solution builds on the custom solutions that Rockwell Automation has designed for the brewing industry for over a decade.

The brewing solution uses a web application to configure automation sequencing and define reporting parameters to help reduce complexity during startup and brewery operation.  During startup, the solution can be adapted to the setup of any brewery, with varying tank, tun and grain-handling equipment.  It reduces dependence on specific skill sets in the workforce and speeds time to production.  It also minimizes project risk by allowing operators to design within the software and test before executing.

The globally supported brewery solution is delivered by Rockwell Automation and certified partner system integrators or OEMs with knowledge of required products and large brewing processes.  It is a result of the continued collaboration in the brewing industry between Rockwell Automation and McRae Integration and complements the existing FactoryTalk Craft Brew solution from Rockwell Automation for craft brewers.

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