Schils: Modernising Industrial Operations and Increasing Flexibility with Smart Factory
Schils: Modernising Industrial Operations and Increasing Flexibility with Smart Factory
An animal nutrition plant undergoing industrial transformation
Schils is one of the leading international producers of nutrition for young animals. A subsidiary of the VanDrie Group, a global market leader, the company relies on state-of-the-art industrial facilities where reliability, quality, and flexibility are essential to meeting its customers’ needs.
As a long-standing partner of Schils for several decades, Equans was already supporting the manufacturer across its Manufacturing Execution System (MES). However, after more than 13 years of operation, the automation system required modernisation to keep pace with the plant’s evolution and new production needs.
Modernising industrial automation and supporting the site’s expansion
Beyond upgrading the existing system, Schils also wanted to expand its industrial capabilities. The project had to address several challenges:
- Modernise an aging automation platform;
- Support the addition of new production lines;
- Integrate new weighing systems;
- Increase operational flexibility;
- Maintain operational continuity during the project;
- Prepare the plant for future industrial developments.
The goal was to have a system capable of sustainably supporting the site’s growth while improving overall production performance.
Smart Factory deployment to modernise and expand production capabilities
To support this transformation, Equans Digital carried out all of the project’s automation work. The scope of work included:
- Migration from the legacy system to the Smart Factory platform;
- Electrical and automation engineering for the new facilities;
- Integration of new production equipment;
- Deployment of new weighing systems;
- The construction of control panels and instrumentation;
- Installation and commissioning work.
Thanks to this development, Schils now benefits from a unified industrial platform that integrates production operations, field equipment, and business processes into a single environment.
A more flexible, efficient, and future-ready factory
The implementation of Smart Factory has enabled Schils to significantly improve the flexibility and efficiency of its manufacturing facilities.
The new system enables flexible management of industrial resources. The five main weighing systems can now be used across all three mixing lines, providing greater flexibility in production planning.
Equans Digital has also integrated advanced calculation logic that automatically determines the required quantities of semi-finished products. These components are then manufactured on dedicated lines and fed into the main process in the appropriate proportions, thereby improving overall production efficiency.
The plant now has a modern facility capable of supporting its future industrial developments. This modernisation enhances its ability to integrate new production lines, new equipment, and new business needs over time.
Tangible Results Thanks to Smart Factory
Thanks to the modernisation of its industrial automation, Schils now benefits from:
- A modernised industrial infrastructure;
- More flexible production;
- Better utilisation of weighing resources;
- Optimised production flows;
- Advanced management of semi-finished products;
- A scalable Smart Factory platform;
- Improved operational efficiency;
- An industrial environment ready for future developments.
Key Figures for the Smart Factory Project
Turn Your OT Data into a Driver of Industrial Performance
Discover how Smart Factory can modernise your production environments, improve the flexibility of your operations, and leverage your OT data to support your long-term growth. Talk to our experts today.Turn Your OT Data into a Driver of Industrial Performance
Discover how Smart Factory can modernise your production environments, improve the flexibility of your operations, and leverage your OT data to support your long-term growth. Talk to our experts today.