Lödige Industries has completed a major modernisation of the automated pallet transport system at Swire Coca-Cola HK’s manufacturing facility in Sha Tin, Hong Kong, improving handling capacity, operational reliability and the efficiency of internal logistics.
Completed in March 2026, the project involved replacing 11 ageing hoists, upgrading conveyor infrastructure and installing a new control system to support the site’s modernised, high-throughput production lines.
The upgraded Bin Hoist System (BHS) can now handle up to 100 pallets per hour. Its enhanced vertical transport capabilities connect a wider range of floors, helping streamline pallet movement and reduce bottlenecks at one of Swire Coca-Cola HK’s key manufacturing and distribution facilities.
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The project was formally marked at a ceremony hosted by Swire Coca-Cola HK on 28 May 2026, attended by Nicholas Tripptree, managing director for Asia-Pacific at Lödige Industries.
Automation increases throughput
Swire Coca-Cola HK’s Sha Tin plant has operated since 1991, with its original material-handling infrastructure relying on hoists and conveyors that were more than two decades old. As production lines underwent modernisation, the existing equipment required an upgrade to accommodate higher throughput and improve system reliability.
Lödige Industries developed a solution tailored to the facility’s operating requirements and physical constraints. Limitations imposed by the existing hoist shafts and housings meant that conventional replacement options were not suitable for the site.
The project included replacing all 11 hoists, removing an obsolete hoist, installing new conveyors and interface stations, and introducing an updated control system.
The resulting BHS extends beyond a like-for-like equipment replacement. Its bidirectional operation and expanded service coverage—from floors 3 to 13 to the ground floor and floor 16—allow pallets to move automatically across a larger part of the facility.
Higher hoist and conveyor speeds are designed to improve throughput and support the demands of the upgraded production lines. The system’s capacity of up to 100 pallets per hour provides additional handling capability for the plant’s internal logistics operations.
Safety and energy efficiency
The modernised system is also intended to improve workplace safety by reducing internal traffic and reliance on forklift trucks. Enhanced enclosures, advanced sensors and integrated fire protection provide additional safeguards around the automated handling equipment.
Energy-saving functions and intelligent standby modes are designed to reduce unnecessary electricity consumption, supporting efforts to improve the efficiency of the facility’s logistics infrastructure.
The system has also been designed to accommodate future development, with compatibility for further automation technologies intended to support operational expansion and digital transformation.
Lödige Industries delivered the project using its mechanical and electrical engineering, control software, system design, installation and commissioning capabilities.
Long-term service support
Tripptree said the project demonstrated how automated material-handling technology could improve efficiency and safety in high-volume facilities where space is limited.
He highlighted the role of integrated vertical transport systems in reducing forklift traffic, improving worker safety and supporting efforts to lower energy consumption across modern supply chains.
Following handover, Lödige Industries will continue to support Swire Coca-Cola HK through an established service contract intended to help maintain the system’s reliability and long-term performance.
Swire Coca-Cola is the fifth-largest bottling partner of The Coca-Cola Company globally, with franchise rights spanning markets in Greater China and Southeast Asia, as well as parts of the United States. Its Hong Kong operation manufactures and distributes beverages for the local market.
The Sha Tin upgrade forms part of the continuing development of the infrastructure supporting Swire Coca-Cola HK’s manufacturing and distribution operations, with automated pallet handling playing a key role in moving products efficiently through the facility.
