Ceylon Can embarks on a digital transformation journey with Rockwell Automation’s Plex MES

Ceylon Beverage Can, a state-of-the-art beverage packaging manufacturing unit in South Asia, has recently joined forces with Rockwell Automation, Inc., the global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. This collaboration marks a milestone as Rockwell introduces its cloud-based Plex Manufacturing Execution System (MES) to Ceylon Can, enabling a seamless transition to digital manufacturing.

Image Source- Rockwell Automation

Notably, this initiative represents Rockwell’s first Plex MES deployment in Sri Lanka and its debut in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) sector within the Indian subcontinent. As Ceylon Can gears up to expand its operations with new facilities in India, this pilot project will serve as a vital stepping stone in advancing the company’s digital transformation journey.

Some of the key features of the MES include:

Finite production scheduling: Optimise job assignments to work centres while considering resource availability, ensuring efficient and timely operations.

Closed-loop quality management: Implement and enforce quality procedures directly from the control plan to enhance process repeatability and predictability.

Real-time inventory management: Monitor inventory with end-to-end traceability, ensuring complete control and visibility at every stage.

Production management: Align production with demand by manufacturing the right quantity of the right product at the right time, boosting overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

About Plex Manufacturing Execution System

The Plex MES delivers ready-to-use functionalities explicitly designed for discrete manufacturing processes, offering real-time insights into critical production metrics like Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE). By adopting this system, manufacturers can achieve improved production efficiency, shorter delivery timelines for end users, and enhanced adaptability for integrating new designs and products into manufacturing.

Dilip Sawhney, managing director of Rockwell Automation India, stated, “We are proud to partner with Ceylon Can Manufacturing in their digital transformation journey. This collaboration underscores our commitment to support manufacturers by helping optimise their operations and improving efficiency through innovative solutions, which will set a new benchmark for digital transformation in CAN manufacturing.”

Ceylon Beverage Can

Ceylon Beverage Can specialises in manufacturing and delivering aluminium cans and ends for some of the world’s most beloved beverage brands. The products include standard aluminium cans and can ends, all backed by exceptional customer service to ensure a seamless experience.

Ceylon Can Manufacturing exports 80 per cent of its products worldwide. The digital transformation program will be launched at the company’s existing facility in Sri Lanka, serving as a pilot for broader digital initiatives. This initiative aligns with Ceylon Can’s plans to expand its manufacturing footprint by developing two greenfield plants in India.

Chulananda de Silva, General Manager Plant, Ceylon Can, added, “We are excited to collaborate with Rockwell Automation as we transition to a more digitally advanced production process. The capabilities of the Plex platform align perfectly with our operational needs, and we are confident that this partnership will enhance our ability to deliver high-quality products to our global customers.”