Beer, a quintessential fast-moving consumer good (FMCG), commands significant importance in the sector due to its massive consumer base and extensive market reach. In spite of substantial production volumes, its demand exhibits pronounced seasonal volatility. Summer peaks drive intense market demand and acute logistics pressure, while winter troughs see dramatic declines. This cyclicality complicates corporate resource allocation. Compounding these challenges, beer is heavy and relatively cheap in unit price, resulting in disproportionately high logistics costs. Furthermore, diverse packaging formats (bottles, cans, kegs) necessitate specialized handling and storage protocols. When coupled with strict shelf-life constraints, high requirements for exceptional precision and coordination efficiency across logistics operations are made.
The beer industry is undergoing profound transformation driven by rising consumer affluence and evolving preferences. Traditional logistics models, hampered by inefficiency, high costs, and outdated management practices, have become inadequate for emerging industry demands. Establishing agile, data-driven modern logistics systems is now an urgent imperative.
To address these constraints, Tsingtao Brewery (Luoyang) and Budweiser partnered with Shenzhen NEW TREND Internatioanl Logistics Technology Co., Ltd. to develop a smart logistics initiative. By integrating advanced automation and intelligent management systems at the finished goods stage, the project achieved substantial gains in storage density and operational efficiency while ensuring product integrity throughout production, warehousing, and distribution. This pioneering effort provides a replicable technological benchmark for industry-wide logistics modernization.
The Tsingtao Brewery (Luoyang) project overcame these legacy issues through comprehensive technological innovation. Implementing in-line retrofitting enabled seamless system upgrades, facilitating rapid goods movement. Multiple AGV types operate collaboratively within shared zones and lines, becoming an industry-first achievement. Warehouse layout optimization and intelligent equipment deployment boosted storage capacity by 10%, increased storage turnover by 30%, and improved loading efficiency by 30%. Digital twin technology now enables real-time inventory monitoring and AI-driven decision support, preventing overstock and shortages. Dynamic resource optimization has reduced energy consumption and operational costs, with AGVs utilizing intelligent charging for continuous 24/7 operation. Sustainability advancements include “lights-out warehouse” implementation featuring smart lighting controls that reduce energy waste by operating only during active workflows.
Beyond the Luoyang project, NTI customized solution for Budweiser demonstrates scalable innovation. The deployment features 13 specialized AGVs, including nine double-station banlanced fork AGVs and four quadruple-station roller-back AGVs. Quadruple-station roller-back AGVs carry packaged beer from production lines to automated storage systems, while double-station banlanced fork AGVs manage tidal warehousing and order staging. This achieves fully automated flow from manufacturing to outbound logistics.
Critical engineering breakthroughs resolved complex operational challenges. The double-station AGV design required exceptional mechanical precision, maintaining fork height alignment within 5mm tolerance despite spatial constraints. The system overcomes the difficulties of high-precision positioning requirements (±2mm), intelligent SKU recognition across variable packaging, and seamless integration with existing warehouse management infrastructure, validating smart logistics’ viability for brewing operations. These innovations establish new industry standards for heavy-load automation in FMCG environments, demonstrating how intelligent systems transform traditional constraints into competitive advantages.
The following video is our on-site visit to NTI factory.
