Integrating Smart Infrastructure: How Siemens Is Engineering DrinkPAK’s Rapid Production Expansion
A Coast-to-Coast Digital Manufacturing Network
DrinkPAK, one of the premier contract beverage manufacturers in North America, is currently scaling its high-speed production footprint through a technology partnership with Siemens. By integrating industrial automation, intelligent power monitoring, and tailored commercial financing, DrinkPAK is optimizing its state-of-the-art packaging and distribution plant in Fort Worth, Texas.
The facility batches, fills, tests, and distributes canned beverages for global brands at speeds reaching 3,000 cans per minute. Alongside its existing Santa Clarita, California plant and an upcoming Philadelphia, Pennsylvania site planned for early 2027, the Fort Worth complex gives DrinkPAK’s customers access to one of the most flexible and scalable contract manufacturing assets in the industry.
Brian Aster, Chief Strategy Officer at DrinkPAK, commented on the technical foundation of this growth:
"Partnering with Siemens gave us the flexibility to scale rapidly while investing in energy-efficient automation. Their industry knowledge and tailored financing solutions have been critical to our growth and long-term success."
Recipe Control and Power Management on the Factory Floor
A key element of the Fort Worth facility’s efficiency is the deployment of BRAUMAT, a highly scalable process control system specifically optimized for recipe-based beverage production. This system ensures consistent product quality and minimizes batch-to-batch variation.
The architecture relies on high-performance Siemens hardware to streamline operations:
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Real-Time Visualization: Advanced HMIs (Human-Machine Interfaces) provide operators with clear diagnostics, live performance data, and parameter adjustments to reduce operational downtime.
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Logic and Communications: Robust PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers) handle high-speed process logic, communication networks, and localized safety loops.
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Energy Infrastructure: The integration of smart switchboards and intelligent metering systems powers critical machinery while delivering granular data for real-time energy monitoring and sustainability reporting.
Advanced Intralogistics and Warehouse Automation
To maximize throughput and ensure seamless material handling, DrinkPAK has integrated Siemens' automation hardware directly into its autonomous logistics systems. Working with its intralogistics partner, E80 Group, DrinkPAK deployed a fleet of Automatic Laser-Guided Vehicles (AGVs) to manage warehouse pallet movement and automate truck loading operations.
Within these autonomous platforms, Siemens PLCs act as the central control units, managing precise synchronization between onboard sensors, motor drives, and guidance systems. By maintaining hardware consistency across both the production lines and the mobile warehouse units, DrinkPAK achieves seamless interoperability, simplifies plant maintenance, and accelerates diagnostic troubleshooting.
Chris Stevens, President of Siemens Digital Industries U.S., highlighted the business impact of this integrated deployment:
"Innovation isn’t just about technology – it’s about how the right technologies work together to solve business challenges. Our collaboration with DrinkPAK unites advanced automation, intelligent infrastructure and flexible financing to create a truly integrated solution. By enabling DrinkPAK to automate complex logistics, maximize uptime and scale efficiently, Siemens turns the promise of digital transformation into measurable results."
Written by: Derek Foster
Derek is a senior controls engineer and automation consultant with 12 years of hands-on experience designing distributed control networks, programming advanced PLC-HMI architectures, and optimizing high-volume packaging systems for the food and beverage industry.