A large North American beverage company, needed to bring seltzer and Ready to drink (RTD) beverage manufacturing capabilities to its Canadian facilities.

CHALLENGE: NAVIGATING LOGISTICAL AND TAX CONSIDERATIONS

Due to logistical and tax considerations, it is imperative to produce beverages in close proximity to the point of sale. Faced with competition that had already embraced the technology for Seltzers, our client sought to follow suit. The project was initiated with Actemium in November 2020, amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, which restricted travel. Additionally, the client was navigating labor negotiations at the time, further limiting access to the facility.

SOLUTION: TRANSFORMING VISION INTO OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY

Actemium was commissioned to finalize the design of process engineering, a task that included demolishing a disused section of the facility. Our responsibilities spanned civil, architectural, structural, process, electrical, and automation engineering. Upon successful completion of the engineering phase, we secured additional contracts for designing and building network control panels, automating systems, procuring challenging-to-source items, and overseeing the construction and project management. We were also entrusted with the asset care/PM build for all newly acquired assets.

Following the completion of process design, Actemium was further assigned to engineer a new can line for packaging the product, which involved transforming a warehouse section into a production facility. Our expertise covered civil, architectural, structural, process, electrical, and automation engineering. Actemium was awarded the construction and project management responsibilities for this new production line.  We were also entrusted with the asset care/PM build for all newly acquired assets. The extensive project required the installation of 100 km of pipes for various utilities and product flow, along with over 400 km of electrical cable.

PROJECT TEAM:

Our project was overseen by a proficient project management team, led by a program lead with overarching responsibility for the entire project. Comprising two senior project managers, one dedicated to managing the process segment and the other overseeing the installation of the packaging line, each project manager had a site construction manager overseeing day-to-day activities. Additionally, an electrical project manager was provided to support electrical contractors in their scope. 

This cohesive team seamlessly integrated into the client’s engineering and operations teams, ensuring effective collaboration, and addressing interfaces between day-to-day operations and project requirements. Actemium also deployed eight automation engineers to facilitate the startup and commissioning of both the process and packaging line. In total, 15 dedicated employees contributed to the project’s success. 

At its zenith, our project involved 150 on-site contractors, working around the clock, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to meet critical milestones and ultimately achieve the project’s end goals.

RESULTS:

The project successfully met its deadline and financial targets, ensuring timely delivery of the product to the end consumer. Actemium effectively utilized its extensive network of suppliers and contacts to secure materials despite challenging supply chain shortages. We provided tailored solutions to address the client’s specific needs, ensuring their requirements were not only met but exceeded.

CONCLUSION:

When clients are up against tight deadlines and are unsure of specific solutions, we thrive on delivering efficient designs that can be easily put into action, even in the most stressful circumstances.