In an unprecedented move that set the stage for a revolution in the beverage industry, Canadian regulators greenlit the legalization of cannabis-infused beverages, creating a buzzing new market segment.
This groundbreaking decision opened doors to a unique opportunity. A leading beverage corporation and a cannabis company embarked on a joint venture, aiming to become frontrunners in the production of cannabis-infused beverages.
This emerging organization faces the challenge of bringing products to the market within 12 months. They must design and construct a modern production facility capable of processing and packaging these innovative offerings. To navigate this complex journey, they were in search of a partner with the expertise to steer both the development and implementation phases of the project.
CHALLENGE:
The period between the legalization of cannabis-infused beverages and consumer access was under one year. Throughout the project, a series of legislative requirements pertaining to labels, packaging, and safety/tamper evidence underwent frequent revisions, necessitating continual adjustments. The tight timeline compelled the concurrent development of multiple project workstreams. Being the inaugural products of their kind, the lack of established engineering processes and product formulations mandated simultaneous development. Given the emergence of a new market segment, it was imperative for the client to secure the lead by being the first to introduce a range of offerings, encompassing various flavors, formats, packaging, and content configurations.
ACTEMIUM’S ROLE IN PIONEERING INNOVATION
Actemium’ s expertise in beverage production, coupled with their holistic project management approach, proved successful. The team played a pivotal role in all project stages, ensuring consistency in building, utilities, process engineering, package development, and equipment layout. Standardized approaches to MES, controls, and automation minimized start-up time and operational complexity.
This standardized system also allowed for remote commissioning of equipment, a crucial advantage during the COVID-19 pandemic when on-site visits were challenging. The incorporation of the latest technologies in process engineering and packaging lines led to highly efficient operations with minimized operating and maintenance costs. Due to time constraints, a greenfield approach was not feasible, leading to the selection of a 200,000 sqft portion of a 1.5M sqft lights-out warehouse in Belleville, ON. The chosen facility underwent extensive renovations to meet the specific business needs, covering everything from security systems to manufacturing and packaging setups.
RESULT: A MARKET READY FOR INNOVATION
Through collaborative effort and strategic foresight, Actemium and the client successfully engineered and launched a suite of innovative, cannabis-infused beverages. Integration of cutting-edge technologies in process engineering and packaging lines led to highly efficient operations, minimizing operating and maintenance costs.
Ultimately, the project’s success story is one of pioneering spirit and collaboration. It showcases how expertise, when coupled with flexibility and a forward-thinking approach, can transform challenges into opportunities, setting new standards in the beverage industry and beyond.
