In 2025, several facilities owned by leading brewing companies implemented the Digital Factory Portal (DFP), an innovative solution that is transforming the industry and setting new standards for excellence.

The DFP, an Industry 4.0 platform developed by experienced experts from Montelektro, was first launched at BrauBeviale held in Nuremberg in November 2023. Meanwhile, it was successfully implemented in factories such as Albert Maltings (Belgium), Mahou Brewery (Spain), and Bracongo Brewery (DR Congo), providing them with digitalization of their production processes. 

The development of the Digital Factory Portal is the result of the knowledge and experience that Montelektro’s experts have gained over thirty years of providing industrial automation and electrical engineering services and solutions to the global brewing industry. A deep understanding of the unique aspects of the production process enables engineers to create a platform that can be customized for breweries of various sizes and their complex requirements. 

Essentially, DFP is a Manufacturing Execution System (MES). It collects, saves, and analyzes a vast amount of data about the entire production process, from raw material intake to the end product being ready for delivery. 

Additionally, it is integrated with other systems within the plant, including PCS and PLC, ERP, laboratory (LIMS), maintenance, and other systems. 

The complete development process depends on the specific needs of each plant. Typically, it takes between six months and two years for the software to be ready for commissioning.

Since it was the first DFP for a brewery, the development of a solution tailored to Bracongo Brewery’s request in Kinshasa took two years of diligent engineering work. The new solution brought to the African brewery numerous benefits for production process improvement, by enabling real-time insight into all aspects of production – controlling, monitoring, scheduling, and analysis of the production process. 

The development and implementation of the Alovera brewery project lasted a year. Although some of the functionalities have already been developed through similar projects, the major part of the development included customization adjusted to Alovera’s brewery requirements. It also included features that are implemented in Kinshasa brewery, such as functionalities for collecting production data, material traceability, quality control, process optimization analytics, reporting, as well as the integration of an audit trail, KPIs, and an interface that connects all other processes within a plant. 

Although both breweries mentioned above are running the Batch ME – Montelektro Process Control System, the DFP can be seamlessly integrated with any other brand of PCS. 

The influence of solutions like DFP on the industry is significant. The digitalization of brewing processes, along with all other types of production, facilitates improvements in production, product quality, efficiency, cost reduction, and energy consumption. Ultimately, it enables the company’s management to make better decisions, achieve business goals, and optimize its market positioning.

In the near future, all current features of DFP will be upgraded in accordance with technological advancements, market trends, and evolving requirements, including the utilization of AI tools, which will enhance the competitiveness of breweries and factories on the market. 

The recent updates to the Digital Factory Portal will be presented, along with case studies of its implementation in European and African factories and breweries, at the upcoming Drinktec fair, which will take place at the Munich Trade Fair Center from September 15 to 19, 2025.

DFP has been developed by Montelektro, a Croatian-based technology company founded in 1990. It specializes in industrial automation, IT, digital transformation, electrical engineering, and power distribution solutions and services across various industries. Solutions provided by Montelektro are currently running in 500 plants around the globe, including over 280 breweries, making them one of the leading process control system integrators in the brewing industry.