ABB and B&R Bring Joint Automation Technologies for Brewery and Beverage to Drinktec 2025
Advanced Automation for the Beverage Industry
ABB and its machine and factory automation division, B&R Industrial Automation, will present their latest industrial automation technologies at Drinktec 2025 in Munich, Germany. The event, scheduled for September 15–19, provides an ideal platform for manufacturers to explore how PLCs, DCS, and factory automation systems can streamline operations across the entire beverage production cycle. By combining ABB and B&R solutions, companies can achieve safer operations, better quality control, and optimized resource utilization.
Unified Control Systems to Enhance Brewery Efficiency
ABB and B&R offer a fully interoperable automation ecosystem that integrates process control, adaptive manufacturing, and digital optimization. This unified approach allows breweries to improve production flexibility while accelerating innovation. Moreover, it enables producers to reduce energy consumption and water usage, making operations leaner and more sustainable. In practice, a brewery using ABB’s PLC-based System 800xA DCS alongside B&R’s adaptive automation can seamlessly manage raw materials, fermentation, filling, and packaging lines under one control system.
ABB AbilityBeerMaker: Optimizing Brewing Operations
A key highlight is the ABB AbilityBeerMaker, a modular solution built on the ABB Ability System 800xA platform. This system simplifies brewing, reduces configuration complexity, and increases reliability while scaling production efficiently. By minimizing energy and water consumption, breweries can operate more sustainably. The solution’s debut coincides with an ongoing deployment at a leading South American brewery, demonstrating practical application and performance benefits. Experienced system integrators oversee these installations, ensuring operational excellence and adherence to industry best practices.
Interactive Demonstrations of Integrated Automation
At Booth 472/480 in Hall C5, attendees can engage with live demonstrations like ABB Technology Experience: Mechanical Engineering & Industry (ATEMI). This exhibit shows how drives, control systems, safety technologies, and vision systems interoperate. Visitors can operate the setup using a joystick, witnessing first-hand the seamless connectivity of ABB components in a compact automation environment. Such interactive experiences highlight the practical advantages of integrating multiple control and PLC systems into a single ecosystem.
B&R Adaptive Automation for Packaging and Production Flexibility
B&R will showcase solutions for OEMs and beverage producers seeking high productivity and precision. The adaptive portfolio, including ACOPOStrak and ACOPOS 6D track systems with magnetically levitating shuttles, supports rapid changeovers and SKU proliferation. By combining robotics, IIoT communication protocols like OPC UA and POWERLINK, and smart automation software, B&R enables manufacturers to reduce machine footprint while improving efficiency. This future-proof approach ensures producers can meet market demands for customized beverages without sacrificing throughput or quality.
Modular Type Package (MTP) and Digital Optimization
ABB and B&R will also highlight the benefits of Modular Type Package (MTP) concepts in the brewery sector. These modules improve engineering efficiency, simplify system integration, and accelerate commissioning. Additional digital tools on display include Energy Management Systems (EMS), Advanced Process Control (APC), Knowledge Manager, and Connected Workforce solutions. These technologies empower breweries to adopt a data-driven, responsive, and sustainable production model while maintaining high reliability and operational safety.
Expert Insights on Beverage Industry Automation
The beverage industry faces increasing pressure for faster changeovers, higher SKU variety, and sustainable operations. Integrating DCS and PLC systems, as ABB and B&R demonstrate, provides a competitive advantage by linking production efficiency with digital intelligence. Manufacturers that adopt these solutions can respond more quickly to market trends, reduce operational costs, and ensure consistent product quality. From my perspective, the adoption of adaptive automation and modular process control represents the next step toward fully digital, interconnected beverage production lines.
Applications and Use Cases
- Brewery Expansion: Scaling production while reducing water and energy consumption using ABB AbilityBeerMaker.
- Packaging Flexibility: Implementing B&R ACOPOStrak for rapid changeovers and multi-SKU lines.
- Energy Management: Using EMS and APC to optimize resource utilization across utilities.
- Integrated Digital Control: Combining PLC, DCS, and smart sensors for end-to-end process visibility.
