Tetra Pak Technology Gets Digital Upgrade

20 Apr 2017 --- Global processing and packaging firm, Tetra Pak has announced it will launch a new suite of services for its customers using the latest digital technologies. The service will focus on improving the ability to predict machine errors, accelerating response times, and giving the customer faster, direct access to Tetra Pak’s global expertise.

Powered by Microsoft technology, the company say the new digital solutions will boost manufacturers’ efficiency, cut costs, ensure food safety, and ultimately drive businesses forward.

"We are the first liquid food packaging company to be offering these kinds of digitally integrated services to the industry," Johan Nilsson, Vice President Tetra Pak Services told FoodIngredientsFirst.

"Secondly, Microsoft offers the latest and most cutting edge technology available right now. The connected solutions help to predict and resolve machine issues, and maintain plant systems faster than ever before. This can result in cost and energy savings for our customers."

Nilsson added, "There will be many benefits to customers from the new suite of digital services including cost savings and increased production efficiencies. The most immediate and noticeable benefit customers will see is to their issues prediction and resolution."

"The improved access and sophistication of data analytics is giving customers better and more individualizedd analysis of their plant than ever before. Combining this with new technology (both hardware and software) which is connecting the Tetra Pak experts in real-time, customers are seeing their machine down-time decrease and in some cases, removed all together."

Nilsson said that the company recognised the need to create digital solutions to optimise efficiencies for our customers so we decided to collaborate with the best in class technology provider in the market.

"Our collaboration with Microsoft is enabling our customers access to tools which help them stay ahead of operation issues, increase efficiency, and optimise plant performance."

Dennis Jönsson, President and CEO, Tetra Pak said: “Digital technologies are revolutionizing every industry, and it’s exciting to make the latest innovations work for our customers.”

“We are pleased to be the first to launch digitalized services, offering customers reduced costs, enhanced efficiency, and peace-of-mind. This is just the beginning of what promises to be a very exciting journey for us and our customers.”

Tetra Pak say that the new service solutions for maintenance, issues monitoring and resolution will center around connecting workforces by utilizing wearable technology. The service allows local Tetra Pak service engineers at customer sites to connect directly with global Tetra Pak specialists wherever they are, providing real-time, expert support to customers.

Advanced analytics also come into play, with data from filling lines around the world collected into a central database from where it can be accessed and analyzed by a team of Tetra Pak’s global experts. The company says that the robust database means that advanced analysis can be used to predict issues and optimize machine performance.

Tetra pack also state that the new equipment at the customer plant can be connected to the Microsoft Azure cloud system which will be managed in house, enabling machines at different production stages such as processing, filling and distribution to communicate with each other and synchronize. They say that this gives the customer an overview of the plant, and offers performance optimization opportunities for the whole production.

Tetra Pak will showcase the technologies at the 2017 Hannover Messe, 24-28 April in collaboration with Microsoft.