Tetra Pak has unveiled its next-generation Automation and Digitalisation (A&D) portfolio, Tetra Pak Factory OS, at Gulfood Manufacturing in Dubai this week. The new platform introduces a modular, open and scalable suite of smart factory technologies designed to help food and beverage (F&B) producers prepare for AI-ready operations.
Developed in collaboration with Accenture and supported by partners including Siemens, Rockwell Automation and Inductive Automation, Factory OS integrates automation, data and analytics into a single environment to support more efficient and sustainable manufacturing.
A comparative study cited by Tetra Pak found that highly automated beverage plants achieve up to 20 per cent higher overall equipment effectiveness, 45 per cent less product waste and 20 per cent fewer packaging line stops compared with less automated sites. However, many producers continue to face barriers to adoption due to limited digital capability and a lack of integrated industry solutions – a challenge the company aims to address with Factory OS.
“At the heart of Factory OS is a new data integration platform powered by open technologies, analytics and industry standards,” said Sean Sims, vice president, Automation & Solutions at Tetra Pak. “It brings together fragmented data into one unified, real-time view, enabling producers to deliver consistent quality, improve efficiency and lower total cost of ownership.”
Sims said the platform “combines contextualised data – the foundation for effective AI – with high-performing automation, giving producers the confidence to act decisively in a complex market”.
Charles Brand, executive vice president, Processing Solutions & Equipment at Tetra Pak, described Factory OS as “more than a technology portfolio,” positioning it as part of the company’s long-term approach to digital transformation in food and beverage manufacturing.
“Designed for the next decade and beyond, it enables producers to build the factory of the future, where resilience, efficiency and sustainability work in tandem,” Brand said.
Factory OS standardises data collection across all equipment, regardless of supplier or age, to ensure compatibility and scalability. It features a unified user interface for factory-wide visibility, a suite of digital tools for monitoring materials, quality and asset performance, and enterprise-level analytics that connect production data across multiple lines and facilities.
Built for flexibility, the system allows manufacturers to adopt automation and digitalisation at their own pace, scaling up as operations evolve.
Tetra Pak said Factory OS is now available globally.
