+420 569 777 777
LION BREWERY
The year 2023 was characterized by a project for the Lion Brewery in Sri Lanka within our Brewery Management Department, implemented for the German technology company Steinecker.
The subject of our joint delivery was the upgrade of visualization to BOTEC F1 and the modernization of control system, significantly enhancing the operator's competitiveness. The commissioning took place in the first quater of 2023. The team did an excellent job, and the customer requested their involvement repeatedly for future project that is going on right these days.
PROJECT FOR NUMBER 1 BREWERY
Lion Brewery stands out as Sri Lanka's largest and oldest brewery, crafting over 80% of the country's beers. It's not just a local favorite – listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange and part of the S&P Sri Lanka 20 Index.
Moreover, it is also one of the largest taxpayers contributing to the state budget and ranks among the top employers in the region. This brewery is proudly owned and operated by Sri Lankans. Since its establishment in 1849, Lion Brewery has been synonymous with its best-selling beer, Lion Lager, enjoyed not only in Sri Lanka but also in the Maldives.
Through the years, Lion Brewery experienced various changes in ownership and expansions. Today, Lion Brewery dominates the market in Sri Lanka, and also has a global presence.
BEING A LEADER ALSO MEANS HAVING RESPONSIBILITY
The brewery management places great emphasis on responsibility and sustainability in its production processes. Together with Steinecker, it carries out process assessments and identifies areas for innovation in production procedures, energy consumption, and technologies using the Brewnomic technology.
UPGRADE TO BOTEC F1 WAS A LOGICAL STEP
The Lion Brewery decided to upgrade the system to better follow the innovation strategy and meet safety requirements. BOTEC F1 was developed to reflect all future needs, including data acquisition, adherence to cyber safety standards, the availability of the latest features, and a responsive and scalable visualization. This forms the background for the next strategy and technology development in the brewery.
CHANGE IN A SAFE HANDS
"Updating to the new version of BOTEC is a complex change, but it's worth it. Besides ensuring operational security, flexibility in recipes, and data integration possibilities, it's also a great opportunity to revise our production procedures. It literally opens the door for innovations. The specialization of the Botec F1 software and the experience of the Steinecker – B:TECH integration team with brewery technologies and the specifics of their operations were the main reasons why we decided to opt for an update to Botec F1 instead of choosing any other systems. The update went smoothly not only due to the exceptional relationships and added value of the experiences of the involved engineers, but also thanks to precise planning and transparent communication.When I recall the project, what comes to my mind is that with this team, we really are in safe hands."
Mr. Widhura Nuwan, Senior Vice President Engineering at Lion Brewery
ON-SITE PERSPECTIVE
“In Sri Lanka, we carried out an upgrade for the Lion Brewery, the number 1 brewery in the area. The project was demanding, involving not only software updates but also a partial hardware replacement. All of this was done while the brewery was in operation beside 5 days of regular maintenance shutdown, with a focus on minimizing production downtime.
From my perspective the Steinecker - B:TECH team did an excellent job, not only from a technical point of view but also in creating a truly professional and friendly atmosphere on the site, even during the challenging phases of the project. We left behind a satisfied customer who has requested the same team for future projects. I consider that as the best feedback."
Franz Heidenreich, Project Manager, Steinecker
UPGRADE TO BOTEC F1
Before the brewery upgrade, it operated on the BOTEC Classic control system. The hardware setup consisted of 5 PLCs and 8 operator stations, comprising 6 individual monitors at the control center and 2 computers in the field.
The upgrade to the new BOTEC F1 system not only involved a change in visualization and operator interface but also a hardware replacement of all operator stations, a new SQL server, and the replacement of PLC software. The technological outcome was 11 operator stations with dual monitors and 3 computers in the field.
TWO PHASES OF UPGRADE
The upgrade occurred in two phases; initially, the upgrade focused on the cellar and filter. Subsequently, an extensive debugging and commissioning process took place for the new cellar. The brewhouse continued to operate on the legacy system. Once operators acclimated, we transitioned to upgrading the brewhouse, initiating the optimization phase. This period involved fine-tuning and rectifying errors arising from the upgrade. It's imperative to exercise caution not to underestimate the intricacies of such a project, given the substantial workload involved.
THOROUGH PREPARATION AND COMPREHENSIVE PERSPECTIVE
"Externally, the transformation may appear as a mere adjustment in visualization. However, it encompasses the implementation of an entirely new software architecture in the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), coupled with the migration of all original data storage from computers to the SQL database of BOTEC F1," says Lukas Herda, Technical leader at B:TECH, who was the leading engineer from B:TECH site.
The project operated under significant time pressure and new engineers have been participating. Nevertheless, all deadlines were successfully met, leaving a satisfied customer in its wake. Franz Heidenreich, responsible for its management, describes, based on his experience, FIVE STEPS AND PRINCIPLES that can significantly contribute to the smooth progress and overall success when upgrade to the new BOTEC F1 version:
Maintenance audit
The complete maintenance sequence or at least the equipment audit
Production schedule
Sharing the exact production schedule that engineering as well as production team folow
Risk and limits of suplies
An open communicaton about Risk and Limits of Suplies depanding of the field conditions
Tranings
Operator training at Krones Academy ensures a smooth transition
Technological support
Technical support on-site for engineering team
UPGRADE BRINGS MANY ADVANTAGES
How to create and manage recipes, plan, edit or trigger prodution orders with Botec F1? Are you interested in control and monitoring in real time and much more smart options?
"B:TECH signifies reliability and commitment to us, not only in individual projects but also within the framework of our long-term business relationship with our company. Collaboration not only provides us with flexibility in our own projects but also ensures sustainability. We highly value B:TECH's strategic expertise and talent management, which they have developed over the years. The diversity that collaboration brings to our teams is also important to us. We have faced both good and challenging times in the market, and we have always been able to rely on each other. The decision for B:TECH to directly represent us in business with new customers through the BOTEC platform is rooted in trust built over more than 20 years of collaboration."
Tobias Thiel, Head of Automation, Steinecker
STABLE TEAM AND STRATEGIC TALENTMANAGEMENT
The team has been carrying and advancing its know-how for over 20 years within the framework of established standards. We have also set up best practices for training new engineers. Every year, we provide opportunities for new colleagues, including recent graduates, to join our team. As a company, B:TECH invests in the development of technical education in its region. We organize extracurricular activities for children and actively contribute to industrial automation education at the local high school. We view the investment in technical education as an investment in our shared future.
ADVENTURERS WITH A TASTE FOR FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE
Working in a team that collaborates with Steinecker to provide brewery control systems is not just about technologies. We implement projects literally all around the world, and travel is an integral part of our colleagues' lifestyle. During the cooperation our colleages have worked on project in all continents. Ability to collaborate in diverse teams, Adventure in our blood and language skills are as crucial as technical expertise. Every project, every destination means an experience of new cultures and habits. Often, new friendships are born across borders. The same was true in the case of Sri Lanka.
KIND PEOPLE, BEAUTIFULL NATURE AND SPICY COUSINE
Sri Lanka has captivated our team not only with its beautiful nature and spicy cuisine but, above all, with the character of the local population, which is very friendly and cooperative. Sri Lankans truly can appreciate what they have and find joy in life.
Our engineers were really glad to take opportunity to work there as well as to come back.
DO YOU LOOK FOR PARTNER FOR YOUR PROJECT? CONTACT ME.
Ing. Karel Arnošt, Sales Manager
INTERESTED TO BECOME A TEAM MEMBER?
We are always happy to welcome new adventurers who would like to explore the world with us and have passion for technology.