Rockwell Automation Drives Digital Transformation at Liquats Vegetals: Implications for the Global Packaging Sector

Rockwell Automation Drives Digital Transformation at Liquats Vegetals: Implications for the Packaging Sector

Published on June 19, 2026 — Rockwell Automation, the world's largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, has announced a landmark collaboration with Liquats Vegetals, a prominent Spanish producer of plant-based beverages. The initiative is designed to propel the digitalization of manufacturing operations across Liquats' production facilities. While this modernization is a significant milestone for the food and beverage industry, it also sends a powerful ripple effect through the interconnected world of paper, corrugated board, packaging, and printing.

The Blueprint of a Smart Factory

As consumer demand for plant-based beverages continues to surge globally, manufacturers face an unprecedented level of production complexity. Liquats Vegetals is confronting these challenges by transitioning towards a fully connected enterprise. The digitalization initiative targets improved process visibility, operational consistency, and energy transparency. For packaging and converting professionals, understanding this shift is vital, as the packaging line is intrinsically linked to the processing operations.

To achieve this, Liquats is deploying a suite of advanced Rockwell Automation technologies. The implementation includes the PlantPAx® distributed control system (DCS) to enable flexible process control across various product changeovers. Furthermore, the FactoryTalk® Energy Manager and the DataMosaix™ industrial DataOps solution are being utilized to aggregate production, energy, and sustainability data into a single, cohesive view. This setup allows plant managers to analyze how production performance and resource consumption interact seamlessly across both processing and packaging lines.

Bridging the Gap Between Processing and Packaging

In modern Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) manufacturing, processing and packaging can no longer exist in silos. The digital overhaul at Liquats Vegetals explicitly addresses the interplay between liquid processing and the downstream packaging operations, which heavily rely on carton-based aseptic packaging, printed labels, and corrugated board boxes for distribution.

When a factory digitizes its operations to this extent, the demands on packaging materials inherently change. High-speed, highly flexible automated packaging lines require extremely precise, high-quality corrugated board and folding cartons to prevent machine jams and minimize downtime. The data visibility achieved through Rockwell's platforms means that any inefficiency caused by sub-standard packaging materials will be immediately identified and tracked, raising the accountability for paper and board suppliers.

Impact and Trends in the Paper and Corrugated Packaging Industry

Looking at the trajectory from 2024 to 2025, the paper and packaging industry has already experienced a paradigm shift towards intelligent packaging and supply chain integration. The transformation of plants like Liquats Vegetals accelerates these industry trends:

• End-to-End Traceability: With DataOps platforms aggregating plant data, packaging converters and printers are now expected to provide materials that support track-and-trace capabilities. Printed serialized codes, digital watermarks, and RFID tags on corrugated tertiary packaging are becoming standard requirements to feed real-time data into systems like DataMosaix.
• Waste Reduction and Efficiency: Automated packaging lines driven by real-time analytics drastically reduce material waste. If a specific batch of corrugated boxes causes friction on the line, the data system flags it instantly, allowing packaging engineers to adjust the structural design or material grade on the fly.
• Synchronized Sustainability Goals: Liquats Vegetals' use of FactoryTalk Energy Manager underscores a broader industry commitment to reducing environmental impact. Packaging suppliers are now pressured to mirror these efforts, providing carbon-neutral paperboard and lightweight corrugated materials that complement the manufacturer's energy reduction strategies.

A Global Perspective for 2026 and Beyond

The Rockwell Automation and Liquats Vegetals partnership is a microcosm of a global industrial trend. As we move deeper into 2026, the boundaries between product manufacturing and packaging processes are blurring. For the paper, printing, and corrugated board sectors, the message is clear: survival and growth depend on technological alignment with smart factories.

Suppliers must evolve from mere material providers to digital partners. By understanding the data-driven environments of their clients, packaging companies can engineer smarter, more sustainable, and highly compatible products. The digitalization of the plant floor is no longer just a food and beverage narrative; it is the new standard dictating the future of the entire packaging value chain.