Autexis implemented the complete automation of a new white chocolate production line for Max Felchlin AG and successfully commissioned it.

After an intensive planning, development, and testing phase, Felchlin now has a fully integrated line that spans from the ingredient mixer through the roller refiners and conches to the tank farm.

One line, one system

The new line covers the entire white chocolate production process in a fully integrated automation concept.

At the beginning is the ingredient mixer, which doses and combines the raw materials according to the recipe.

The roller refiners then reduce the particle size of the mass, while the conches ensure texture and flavor development.

At the end of the line, the tank farm takes over the controlled storage and provision for further processing.

Each of these process steps previously had to be considered individually. With the new line, they are now automated, controlled, and monitored for the first time as a fully integrated system.

The Technical Scope

For the implementation, Autexis set up a comprehensive order management system that coordinates recipes, batches, and production orders across the entire line.

A total of ten different interfaces were connected to higher-level systems to ensure data is available end-to-end. 35 motors and 60 valves were automated and integrated into the process control system.

The result is complete process integration, from the initial raw material feed through to storage, which was commissioned as part of the project.

Challenging implementation

A project of this scale places high demands on planning and execution. Ten interfaces mean ten different system logics that must be seamlessly coordinated with one another.

Almost a hundred actuators, distributed across several process steps, require precise control logic and careful commissioning, where each component is tested individually and in interaction.

Projects like this demonstrate how versatile and sophisticated modern automation solutions in food production have become.

Teamwork as a key success factor

Every successful automation project is the result of teamwork, expertise, and a shared commitment to solving challenges. The same applies to Felchlin’s new white line: throughout the entire project, the Autexis and Felchlin teams worked closely together to combine the production requirements with a robust and reliable automation solution.

A special thanks goes to the entire project team for their great effort.