Large-Scale Distillery Production Facility Design and Automation

Large-Scale Distillery Production Facility Design and Automation

Industry: Distilled Spirits
Project Type: Process Engineering | Automation | Controls | Electrical | Procurement | Facility Design

Project Overview

A confidential distilling company partnered with Matrix Technologies to design its first large-scale production facility to significantly increase production capacity for distilled spirits. The project was unique in that the building design and major distillation equipment had already been completed before process engineering began, requiring the facility to be engineered around predefined constraints. The project was also executed during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring remote collaboration and virtual design coordination while maintaining project momentum.

Scope of Work

Matrix Technologies developed the complete process design for the new distillery, beginning with process and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs) that established the foundation for process operation, equipment integration, utility sizing, and automation strategy. The system was engineered around the existing pot stills and included grain handling, cooking, fermentation, product handling, utilities, and clean-in-place (CIP) systems to support multiple recipes while preventing cross-contamination between production runs.

Matrix also provided structural engineering, piping design, 3D modeling, instrumentation design, procurement services, and controls engineering. The controls scope included the design of six independent control panels, electrical drawings, network architecture, wiring schematics, and procurement of panel hardware. The automation platform was built on Rockwell Automation ControlLogix, FactoryTalk Batch, and FactoryTalk View SE, allowing operators to monitor and control the process through distributed HMIs and handheld tablets. Automated process control included fluid transfers, valve sequencing, level monitoring, temperature and pressure control, product routing, and system interlocks.

Project Results

The completed project delivered a fully integrated, large-scale distillery production facility designed to significantly increase production capacity while providing a flexible, scalable automation platform for future growth.

By combining process engineering, facility design, controls, automation, procurement, and system integration, Matrix Technologies provided the client with a complete production solution capable of supporting multiple product recipes, improving operational efficiency, and maintaining consistent product quality through automated process control and validated cleaning systems.