Digitalization Advances in Beverage Processing through Modular Automation

GEA and Siemens are leveraging open standards such as OPC UA and the Module Type Package (MTP) to transform the landscape of beverage processing. These standards facilitate vendor-independent and standardized descriptions of process module functionalities, significantly simplifying system integration and reducing engineering efforts.

The adoption of these standards allows for increased planning reliability and future-proofing for operators. It enables production modules to be combined more swiftly, with capacities expandable with ease, thus allowing plants to adapt flexibly to evolving requirements. MTP is emerging as a crucial enabler for agile and scalable process architectures, not only in beverage processing but also across various process industries.

Furthermore, digital tools like Siemens' SIMIT simulation platform and the TIA Portal engineering framework are instrumental in reducing time to market. By allowing plants and process strategies to be tested virtually before physical implementation, these tools help in shortening development cycles, mitigating early errors, and ensuring more reliable execution of production projects.

Insights into the application of standardized machine integration and modular automation will be showcased at the Siemens Stage during the presentation titled “From standardized CPG to standardized everything – powered by GEA & Siemens” on April 22, 2026.