Industrial automation, Brisbane
Industrial automation and PLC programming for beverage and FMCG lines
BevTech designs, programs and commissions automation that makes food and beverage production lines faster, more consistent and easier to maintain. We work with Allen Bradley and Siemens PLCs, HMIs and robots, and we pair every automation project with our own industrial electricians and mechanical engineers, so one team delivers the whole job.
Allen Bradley and Siemens | PLCs, HMIs and robots | TÜV certified functional safety | Beverage specialists
25+ years
in beverage and FMCG manufacturing
Allen Bradley and Siemens
PLC, HMI and drive platforms
One team
automation, electrical and mechanical in house
24/7
support once your system is running
Our approach
Steady, measurable improvements, not grand promises
BevTech is an engineering company that specialises in the beverage industry. Our automation work is not about big claims. It is about consistent, tangible improvements to the lines you already run.
We work closely with manufacturers to find the real pain points in a production line, then introduce automation that reduces downtime, improves precision and lifts overall efficiency. That might mean a more efficient bottling or canning line, sensor based quality checks, a smarter conveyor sequence, or better connections between your equipment and the software you use to run the plant.
By automating in a steady and methodical way, we help our clients meet growing demand while holding product quality. In an industry that changes every year, we want our automation to be a backbone that supports your growth and stability, not a black box that only one person understands.
Signs your line is ready for an automation upgrade
- Operators working around the same faults every shift
- Changeovers that take longer than they should
- Quality checks that rely on people watching the line
- Downtime you cannot explain because the data is not there
- An ageing PLC or HMI that is hard to support or get parts for
- Bottlenecks where one machine starves or blocks the rest
Automation services
What our automation engineers do
A full range of automation and control services, delivered by engineers who know food and beverage lines.
PLC programming
New programs, modifications and fault finding on Allen Bradley and Siemens PLCs, written clearly, commented properly and backed up at every change.
HMI design and upgrades
Operator screens that show the right information, alarms that point to the real cause, and clear diagnostics that cut fault finding time.
Robots and pick and place
Robotic handling, packing and palletising cells integrated safely with your existing conveyors, machines and safety system.
Conveyor systems
Custom conveyor control, accumulation and line balancing so machines stop starving and blocking each other.
Filling and labelling optimisation
Fine tuning of filling, capping and labelling machinery to improve accuracy, reduce giveaway and cut rejects.
Sensor based quality checks
Automated inspection and reject systems that catch problems on the line, rather than relying on manual checks at the end of it.
Automation and electrical integration
Control panels, field wiring, drives and networks designed and installed by our own electricians, so the control system and the electrical system work as one.
PLC and HMI migrations
Planned upgrades from ageing or obsolete controllers to current platforms, keeping the machine and converting the logic.
Production data and system integration
Linking machines to the software used to run the plant, from production counts and downtime reasons to inventory and reporting.
PLC obsolescence
Is your line running on a PLC you can no longer buy?
Many Australian food and beverage plants still run on controllers that have been discontinued or are being phased out, such as Allen Bradley PLC-5 and SLC 500, and Siemens S5 and S7-300. They often keep working for years, until a card fails and there is no spare on the shelf and none in the country.
A planned migration costs far less than an emergency one. We can review your installed base, identify the highest risk controllers and build a staged upgrade plan that fits into your shutdown calendar.
- Installed base review of PLCs, HMIs, drives and networks across the site.
- Risk ranking based on spares availability, support and production impact.
- Staged migration plan aligned with maintenance days and annual shutdowns.
- Logic conversion and testing before cutover, with a clear rollback plan.
Recent automation projects
Automation we have delivered for beverage manufacturers
Glycol refrigeration control
A Siemens S7-1500 PLC controlling glycol refrigeration to hold beer tank temperatures, giving brewers tighter, more stable control over fermentation and conditioning.
Hot water rinse CIP on a can seamer
A Siemens S7-1200 PLC managing a hot water rinse CIP process on a can seamer, bringing the machine into line with hygiene compliance requirements.
Can inverter block systems
Inverter block systems for 330mL sleek cans, designed, machined and installed in house by our automation, electrical and mechanical teams.
How we deliver
From problem to production, step by step
Automation projects succeed or fail on planning and commissioning. Our process is built to protect your production while the work is done.
- Assess the line. We look at the equipment, the data and the people running it to find where automation will actually help.
- Design the solution. Functional description, electrical design and safety assessment agreed with you before any build starts.
- Prepare and test. Logic is tested and as much work as possible is prepared ahead of time, to shorten the time your line is down.
- Install and commission. Our electricians and engineers install, commission and tune the system with your operators.
- Hand over and support. Backups, drawings, training and 24/7 support once the system is in production.
Machine safety
Safety built into every automation project
Safety is our highest priority. We provide full design drawings, machine operational risk assessments and corrective actions, and our TÜV certified functional safety engineers verify every safety function we touch.
Need people, not a project?
PLC engineers and electricians on your roster
If you need an automation engineer or industrial electrician on site for a shift, a shutdown or a few months, our electrical labour hire service supplies the same people who deliver our projects.
Where we work
Automation engineers across Brisbane and South East Queensland
Our engineering workshop is in Richlands, in Brisbane’s south west. We support food, beverage and FMCG manufacturers across the region, including:
Eagle Farm, Pinkenba, Hemmant, Murarrie, Northgate, Rocklea, Acacia Ridge, Darra, Wacol, Carole Park, Richlands, Berrinba, Crestmead, Yatala, Ipswich and Logan.
If your plant is further afield in Queensland, talk to us. Planned work such as shutdowns, installs and upgrades can often be arranged anywhere in the state.
FAQs
Industrial automation questions
Which PLC platforms do you work with?
Our automation engineers work mainly with Allen Bradley and Siemens PLCs and their matching HMI and drive platforms, which cover most of the equipment in Australian food and beverage plants. If your line runs something else, tell us what it is and we will let you know honestly whether we are the right fit.
Can you modify PLC code that someone else wrote?
Yes. Much of our work is on existing machines where the original integrator is long gone. We start by taking a full backup and reviewing the program so we understand how it works, then make controlled, documented changes that follow your site change control process.
Do we have to replace the whole machine to upgrade an old PLC?
Usually not. In most cases the mechanical machine is sound and only the control system is ageing. A planned PLC migration keeps the machine, replaces the controller, HMI and any obsolete drives, and converts the logic, often within a shutdown window.
Do you provide documentation and backups when the job is finished?
Yes. Every automation job finishes with a current program backup, updated electrical drawings and notes your maintenance team can use. You own the code for your equipment, and you should never be locked out of it.
Can you add automation to a line without stopping production for weeks?
That is exactly how we plan projects. We prepare and test as much as possible in advance, stage the work around maintenance days and shutdowns, and prepare a clear cutover and rollback plan so start up is predictable.
Do you handle machine safety as part of automation projects?
Yes. Any change that affects guarding, interlocks or emergency stops is assessed and verified by our TÜV certified functional safety engineers, and we provide machine operational risk assessments and corrective actions as part of the project.
Are you a PLC or automation engineer?
We are always keen to hear from automation engineers, PLC programmers and industrial electricians with food, beverage or manufacturing experience. See current opportunities at BevTech.
Have a line that could run better?
Tell us what is holding your production back. We will come and look, and give you a practical view of what automation can and cannot fix.
Need electrical support too? See our industrial electricians and electrical labour hire.
