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Modernized Agricultural Processing

Transforming operations through intelligent, connected systems
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Oil in bottles. Industrial production of sunflower oil. Conveyor line for bottling and packing. Sunflower oil plant. Bottles of Cooking Oil on a Production Line.
Food & Beverage
    • Agricultural Processing
    • Agricultural Processing
    • Dairy
    • Dairy
    • Bakery
    • Bakery
    • Beverage
    • Beverage
    • Brewery
    • Brewery
    • Prepared Foods
    • Prepared Foods
    • Protein Processing
    • Protein Processing
    • Energy Management
    • Energy Management
    • Food Packaging
    • Food Packaging
    • Food Safety
    • Food Safety
    • Operational Excellence
    • Operational Excellence
    • Closed-loop Control
    • Closed-loop Control
    • Modernization
    • Modernization
    • Perfect Fill
    • Perfect Fill
    • Production Visibility
    • Production Visibility
  • Sustainability
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Agricultural processors operate in one of the most demanding industrial environments — where volatile inputs, evolving customer expectations, and operational pressures shape every decision. Modern, connected solutions give processors the foundation to simplify operations, optimize performance, and accelerate growth.

By unifying automation, data, and workforce capabilities, agricultural facilities can improve resilience, reduce risk, and unlock measurable value across the entire processing lifecycle.

Integrated Architecture in Agricultural Processing
Integrated Architecture in Agricultural Processing
Blog
Blog
Integrated Architecture in Agricultural Processing
Discover how an Integrated Architecture system simplifies workflows and drives ongoing modernization for agricultural processors
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Value-Driven Modernization in Agricultural Processing
Value-Driven Modernization in Agricultural Processing
eBook
eBook
Value-Driven Modernization in Agricultural Processing
Agricultural processors can tackle immediate modernization needs and drive broad organizational impact with this two-part value framework.
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Why Choose Rockwell Automation

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Proven results

with global agricultural processors 

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Trusted by leading

agricultural processing organizations

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Deep industry expertise

through partnerships and continuous innovation

Navigating Complexity

Agricultural processing has never been more complex. Market volatility, sustainability expectations, and aging infrastructure place immense pressure on operations that must run safely, efficiently, and continuously.

Male factory worker ensuring quality of water bottles on an automated conveyor belt in a drinking water factory.

Today’s processors must navigate challenges such as:

  • Thin margins across diverse and increasingly complex product portfolios
  • Rising raw material and energy costs
  • Increased variability in crop and commodity quality
  • Stricter regulatory compliance pressures
  • Labor shortages and loss of institutional knowledge
  • Cybersecurity threats and rapidly evolving IT/OT convergence needs
  • Rising demand for clean, healthier ingredients and full transparency

Modernization Creates Measurable Operational Impact

Industry leaders across sugar, oilseed, vegetable oil, fermentation, and ingredients processing are achieving measurable improvements through modernization such as:

96%

boiler output accuracy for a leading sugar production facility

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10%

projected improvement in uptime and maintenance efficiency

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10%

reduction in energy consumption for a leading vegetable oil manufacturer

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40%

ahead of schedule on modernization initiatives at a leading gelatin producer

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A Modernization Approach Built Around Your Operation

Modernizing an agricultural processing facility is never a one‑size‑fits‑all effort. Every plant has its own mix of equipment generations, operational priorities, and constraints around uptime. That’s why the modernization journey begins with understanding your specific challenges — from aging systems and unplanned downtime to energy intensity and workforce turnover.

Instead of forcing a predetermined roadmap, the modernization approach adapts to how your plant runs today and where you need it to be in the future. It focuses on three core goals: to help protect continuity, simplify operations, and prepare the facility for digital transformation at your pace.

Quality control team inspects the quality in a canned fish factory.

PlantPAx DCS Helps Country Maid Ramp Up Production
PlantPAx DCS Helps Country Maid Ramp Up Production
Case Study
Case Study
PlantPAx DCS Helps Country Maid Ramp Up Production
Interstates, a Rockwell Automation PartnerNetwork Systems Integrator, helps Country Maid increase production and gain operational efficiencies
Read Now
How to Modernise Your Plant in 4 Stages + 1 Special Ingredient
How to Modernise Your Plant in 4 Stages + 1 Special Ingredient
Blog
Blog
How to Modernise Your Plant in 4 Stages + 1 Special Ingredient
Making the digital transformation to industry 4.0 is a necessary but often daunting prospect. A 4 point modernisation plan + a special ingredient is a good place to start.
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Gain Clarity and Control Through a Modernization and Migration Strategy

Before any upgrade begins, operations teams need to  get a clear, phased plan that addresses the most urgent risks first — whether it’s a control system nearing obsolescence, a boiler house that’s difficult to stabilize, or manual processes that create variability. Modernization is an investment in resilience, operational continuity, and long‑term growth. This strategic advisory layer helps processors prioritize upgrades, reduce risk, and transition from aging systems to modern, connected architectures.


Achieve Simplicity and Stability With Integrated Architecture®

As systems transition to a unified automation environment supported by PlantPAx®, ControlLogix®, and FactoryTalk® solutions, operations instantly feel more coherent. Operators rely on a consistent interface across the plant. Maintenance teams get one source of diagnostic truth. Engineering gains standardized tools for faster changes and reduced complexity. The result is more stability across refining, milling, crushing, extraction, and utilities.

Ethanol Manufacture Company, Closed-Loop Dryer Process
Ethanol Manufacture Company, Closed-Loop Dryer Process
Case Study
Case Study
Ethanol Manufacture Company, Closed-Loop Dryer Process
Discover how one manufacturer optimized its closed-loop dryer process to increase production by 12% and reduce energy usage by 9.9%.
Read Now
Olive oil company improves its production capabilities
Olive oil company improves its production capabilities
Case Study
Case Study
Olive oil company improves its production capabilities
The PlantPAx distributed control system enables olive oil company Conde de Benalúa to improve availability, efficiency, integration, and production in its oil mill.
Read Now

Intelligent Refining Uses PlantPAx™ Process Automation System
Intelligent Refining Uses PlantPAx™ Process Automation System
Case Study
Case Study
Intelligent Refining Uses PlantPAx™ Process Automation System
Leading sugar producer replaces legacy DCS with PlantPAx to obtain and integrate boiler control for vital operations.
Read Now
Five Reasons to Unify Power and Process Control on One Platform
Five Reasons to Unify Power and Process Control on One Platform
Blog
Blog
Five Reasons to Unify Power and Process Control on One Platform
A unified industrial control system simplifies everything. Integrating process and power control platforms delivers actionable real-time data to boost ROI.
Read Now

Unlocking Insight and Efficiency Through Unified Process and Power

Bringing process control, motor control, and power systems together — using technologies such as PowerFlex® drives and CENTERLINE® MCCs — creates visibility that reaches across the plant. Electrical, mechanical, and process data converge in one environment, helping teams pinpoint issues faster, optimize energy use, and prevent equipment‑related variability. This integration drives measurable improvements in reliability, sustainability, and operational cost. 


Benefits of Modernization

Modernization delivers clear, measurable benefits that strengthen every aspect of agricultural processing operations. These benefits illustrate the value unlocked when the three core modernization solution areas — Modernization and Migration, Integrated Architecture, and Unified Process and Power — work together to elevate performance, reliability, and competitiveness.

Empower Workers Optimize Production Manage Risk Accelerate Business Growth via Digital Transformation Drive Sustainability
Woman engineer in a drinking water factory in professional uniform using digital tablet, inspecting quality of drinking water.
Worker inspecting goat milk on production line in dairy factory.
Quality control inspector and production line worker analyzing reports in a food factory
Conveyor belt with sugar beets at a sugar mill
Close up view of huge, silver, stainless steel tanks, shining agricultural grain silos.

Empower Workers

Equip workers with intuitive digital tools that reduce errors, streamline tasks, and preserve institutional knowledge. Enhance teamwork, improve communication, and accelerate onboarding with standardized workflows.

Optimize Production

Digitize and automate operations for real-time visibility and control. Improve throughput, maximize raw material value, and reduce unplanned downtime through predictive maintenance and integrated analytics.

Manage Risk

Strengthen operational safety and product quality with integrated safety systems, proactive quality management, and modern cybersecurity frameworks designed for IT/OT environments.

Accelerate Business Growth via Digital Transformation

Use digital engineering, advanced analytics, AI, and remote connectivity to unlock new business models, shorten development cycles, and enable smarter operational decision-making.

Drive Sustainability

Optimize W.A.G.E.S. (Water, Air, Gas, Electricity, Steam) usage with real-time energy insights, improve environmental performance, and support renewable energy goals with connected sustainability strategies.

Empower Workers
Woman engineer in a drinking water factory in professional uniform using digital tablet, inspecting quality of drinking water.
Optimize Production
Worker inspecting goat milk on production line in dairy factory.
Manage Risk
Quality control inspector and production line worker analyzing reports in a food factory
Accelerate Business Growth via Digital Transformation
Conveyor belt with sugar beets at a sugar mill
Drive Sustainability
Close up view of huge, silver, stainless steel tanks, shining agricultural grain silos.
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