Case Study: Specific Mechanical Systems achieves flexible, high-performance brewing automation with Rockwell Automation

Modular SPECBREW Brewing System Improves Flexibility and Performance

Specific Mechanical Systems, an OEM serving craft breweries, needed a more flexible and expandable automation platform to handle highly customized brewing systems of varying sizes and layouts. It turned to Rockwell Automation and its craft brewing application to support the new SPECBREW system, which had to improve functionality while still giving brewers intuitive control and attractive operator interfaces.

Rockwell Automation helped Specific Mechanical Systems build a modular, recipe-driven solution using Allen-Bradley CompactLogix controllers, PowerFlex AC drives, and PanelView Plus 7 terminals, with EtherNet/IP connectivity for monitoring and remote access. The result was a scalable brewing platform with improved flexibility, efficient ISA101-based HMI design, and centralized visibility across brewhouse and cellar modules. Customer feedback has been very positive, with one experienced brewer calling it the best automation solution he had seen.

Specific Mechanical Systems

Reo Phillips

President