After nearly 30 years, the logistics operations at the C. & A. Veltins Brewery are getting a new core system: Unitechnik is modernizing the entire logistics control system and replacing the software solutions developed in 1997 with a future-proof integrated system comprising warehouse management, material flow control, and visualization. The project began in March 2026 and is scheduled for completion in 2029.
The logistics center of the traditional brewery in Meschede-Grevenstein has been in operation since 1997. After nearly 30 years, the existing logistics control system is reaching its limits. Veltins therefore decided to have the software comprehensively modernized by the intralogistics specialist Unitechnik. The challenge: The system manages all logistics processes at the site, from full and empty containers to bottles, cans, and kegs, as well as stock items. The facility comprises three high-bay warehouses, several loading areas, and sorting and filling lines, which are interconnected across multiple building levels via approximately six kilometers of pallet conveyor systems. Around 800,000 pallets pass through the facility annually. “It was particularly important for us to have a partner who could provide the entire spectrum of warehouse management, material flow control, and visualization from a single source. Geographical proximity and the prospect of a long-term partnership were further decisive factors. That is why we chose Unitechnik,” explains Benedikt Flügge, Head of Logistics at Veltins.
New Control System: Two Become One
Since Veltins’ logistics center has evolved over time, there are currently two separate control systems for legacy and new logistics operations. This complicates operation and increases maintenance requirements. Unitechnik is merging the two systems into a single integrated control system. Based on Unitechnik’s proprietary warehouse management system, UniWare, it combines warehouse management, material flow control, and plant visualization. It controls an extensive infrastructure comprising three high-bay warehouses spread across multiple buildings and levels, and to do so, it interfaces with approximately 100 subordinate subsystems, such as PLC controllers. Through an interface with SAP, previously separate warehouse areas are now centrally consolidated in UniWare. The user interfaces are being converted from complex screens to intuitive, graphical dialogs. “The goal is for employees to be able to grasp all essential information about a plant area at a glance and control it from there,” explains Stefan Blauel, project manager at Unitechnik.
Due to the complexity of the facility, Veltins has commissioned several digital twins. These enable realistic testing using the original control software for specific sections of the sprawling facility without needing to access the actual plant. Commissioning will take place in stages, expected to occur in three phases, each during the off-season from September to April.
With the concept of a lifetime partnership, Veltins secures long-term support: Unitechnik will continue to support the company beyond the project and will also be available as a competent partner for future expansions or modernizations.
