Brewmaxx
brewmaxx is a process control system for the brewing industry. The various process steps of a brewery can be automated, controlled and monitored via the software components of the brewmaxx range.
Fields of application
Due to its scalability, brewmaxx is suited to applications ranging from single station to multi-server systems. It is used in:- small breweries
- medium-sized breweries
- large breweries
The systems and modules of brewmaxx are generally used for the automation of new plants and for migration projects. Existing, outdated control systems with a structured software design can be migrated to brewmaxx via conversion tools.
brewmaxx is used as teaching system for process control technology for breweries at the Technical University Munich. Various university projects use brewmaxx as process controlling system.
Architecture
The brewmaxx range is based on an integrated client-server model and uses standard Microsoft software. The architecture has a modular design. Depending on the requirements, the modules can be used individually or in combination for process control, data acquisition, process management, production management and enterprise resource planning level integration.brewmaxx has been designed as a multi-lingual system. At application level, it offers a computer-dependent language changeover option for the user interface and can be configured in several languages. Communication takes place via the Ethernet connections TCP/IP and OPC.
OPC is preferably used as the interface; however, various OPC servers might be used depending on the control units to be integrated. Furthermore, a driver-based interface is available for non OPC-capable systems. This ensures simple and flexible integration of numerous control systems, e.g. from Mitsubishi Electric, Allen-Bradley, Siemens, VIPA and others. Various reporting functions enable selective access to recorded process and material data.
;Modules
brewmaxx material is a process-oriented material management system, offering a precise 'per transaction' online view of all material movements. Besides inventory management, the acquisition of this information also enables research, statistical evaluations and batch tracking.
The brewmaxx integrate module records process-relevant information from different plants and process areas and enables their division-independent integration with regard to information management. The reporting component of brewmaxx integrate works also with web-based clients.
brewmaxx connect is a freely parameterisable interface for universal data exchange between brewmaxx systems and various third party systems. These include client/server or host-based systems, e.g. ERP, LIMS and maintenance systems, but also intelligent measuring and analysis instruments.
Standards
Production data acquisition with brewmaxx Acquis iT is based on the Weihenstephan Standards. In cooperation with industry representatives and with the support of Wissenschaftsförderung der Deutschen Brauwirtschaft, the chair of Food Packaging Technology at the Technical University Munich in Weihenstephan has developed a standard for the connection of BDE systems to bottling plants.The standard includes the uniform provision and structure of data from the control units of various manufacturers. The Weihenstephan Standards 2000 comprise the guidelines for standard BDE specifications for bottling plants; the Weihenstephan Standards 2005 describe the interfaces and data provision for bottling and packaging plants in the beverage industry.