In Bilten, in the canton of Glarus, Läderach produces high-quality base masses and distributes them to various company sites. Because chocolate has a limited shelf life, production was previously driven largely by immediate demand. A new 50-tonne tank farm now provides additional buffer capacity and greater production flexibility. The chocolate from the conches is now conveyed not only into mobile containers but also into the new tank farm. From the tank farm, the product can be transferred to mobile containers or loaded directly for transport to other production sites. Automated batch data management also improves traceability and data consistency across production sites.

The system had to provide centralized control of all plant components while retaining the option of local operation where required. The solution also had to meet the relevant functional safety requirements. End-to-end batch traceability across multiple sites was another key requirement.

Requirements from project managers, line supervisors, and operators were incorporated into the system specification. Using SIMATIC Unified V19, all processes and operating procedures were visualized in a consistent operator interface. The system guides operators intuitively through the required procedures. This ensures high plant availability and straightforward operator training. Order creation was automated wherever possible, eliminating repetitive manual data entry. A SIMATIC S7-1500SP F CPU handles the demanding control and safety functions.

The resulting solution increases production efficiency and flexibility while simplifying day-to-day operations. It also provides a scalable foundation for the planned expansion at Läderach’s Bilten 2 site.