Page 14 - Beverage Master_JuneJuly 2021

Craft Brewery

PVC or steel. It is fair to say that many breweries ple, if the conveyor runs 4,000 pounds per hour,
only operate their conveyors once or twice a day the brewer can alter and decrease that through
for a couple of hours, so the system’s longevity is a frequency variator or drive system change.
naturally extended. On the other hand, breweries Conversely, the brewer can’t modify a 2,000 pound
that run several batches would look for longer-last- an hour conveyor to run twice the speed, so if they
ing and more durable solutions. It really is a bal- can afford the higher speed systems upfront to
ance between needs and overall cost.” match their planned production increases, it’s a
better option.
Ewald told Beverage Master Magazine that stor-
age most often falls into the use of a hopper-bot- “Most applications are pretty straightforward,”
tomed silo to hold a truckload of malt. Suppose a said Ewald. “Working with an equipment provid-
brewery can get their er on the head end of your brewery planning and
grain by the truckload. knowing what considerations need addressing
In that case, they enjoy upfront goes a long way in ensuring a successful,
the economic advantag- properly sized and reliable system. For example, a
es of buying in bulk, and case in point might be if the conveyor runs over-
the higher initial invest- head across the taproom or restaurant portion of a
ment in the equipment brewery. The last thing you want in an area where
is usually recovered in patrons should be enjoying themselves with your
a relatively short time. food, conversation, and your beer is an excessively
Likewise, with convey- noisy conveyor.”
ors, the brewer can slow
a conveyor system down When the economics of buying in bulk versus
to handle lesser capacity bags make sense, that’s generally when changes,
if needed. For exam- including expansion, take place. Ewald said it’s not

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