MolsonCoors’ Toronto Brewery was facing increasing operational risk due to aging control systems within the Cold Block. Much of the equipment had reached obsolescence, making maintenance difficult and creating potential for unexpected downtime. To address this, MolsonCoors partnered with Actemium in Toronto on a comprehensive, two‑phase modernization program.
Phase 1: Upgrading the Control Infrastructure
The first phase focused on replacing outdated hardware with a modern, centralized control architecture. Actemium designed and delivered a new main control cabinet and systematically upgraded all field I/O across the Cold Block.
During this phase, Actemium also implemented a temporary bridging solution that allowed the new hardware to communicate with the existing controllers. This approach ensured the brewery could maintain normal operations while the new systems were tested and commissioned. By the end of Phase 1, MolsonCoors had fully replaced its legacy equipment with reliable, up‑to‑date hardware.
Phase 2: Migrating to the New Software Platform
With the hardware foundation in place, Phase 2 will transition all control logic onto the new platform. Actemium will remove the temporary bridging and reprogram the system for full integration. Since all field commissioning is already complete, this phase will focus entirely on software, enabling a smooth and efficient migration.
Outcome:
Through this modernization effort, MolsonCoors has significantly reduced the risk associated with aging systems and created a more stable operating environment. The Cold Block now operates on a modern hardware platform, and once Phase 2 is complete, the brewery will have a fully unified, future‑ready control system designed for long‑term reliability and performance.
