Brewing & Beverage Industries Business - Winter 2023/24 - Issue 30 by Brewing & Beverage Industries Business

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ISSN 2398-2489

Winter 2023/4

The Products & Services Magazine for the UK’s Drinks Production Industry

Issue 30

Incorporating

December • January • February

FOCUS

UK Cider

SHOWCASES

• Production Equipment • Business Services In this issue

Plus all the latest products & services news from the UK drinks industry’s supply chain

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WELCOME TO

Brewing & Beverage Industries Business is a quarterly ‘Supply Chain’ magazine targeting the UK drinks production industry. If your company supplies products and services to brewers, distillers, cider makers, etc, then this is the platform for you.

Subscription is free and printed copies are mailed out throughout Great Britain and Northern Ireland. If you are one of the very few UK brewers, distillers, or cider manufacturers, not receiving a regular copy, then please contact us today.

The Products & Services Magazine for the UK Drinks Production Industry

ALWAYS IN PRINT & ONLINE - Now into our 8th year!

WHO WE ARE Magazine Editor

Chris Freer Digital Editor

Simon Butler

For editorial or advertising enquiries, call the Editor on 0115 8 549 349 or e-mail:

chris@brewingbusiness.co.uk

WHO WRITES FOR US RUTH EVANS MBE

Ruth is CEO of BFBi, whose membership represents the supply chain for the brewing and beverage industries.

JULIAN GROCOCK

Julian Grocock is a former chief executive of SIBA with extensive experience in beer, brewery and pub politics.

ALAN POWELL

Alan Powell is a specialist excise duties consultant, who heads up the British Distillers Alliance.

We are delighted to be the home of

News from the Brewing, Food & Beverage Industry Suppliers Association Cover illustration Sam Fairbank (right) and Joey Mantle of Arlington Packaging Limited

ISSN 2398-2489

Published by freerbutler limited PO Box 9666 • Nottingham • NG10 9BY United Kingdom Tel: 0115 8 549 349 brewingbusiness.co.uk Our print circulation is audited and certified

Brewing & Beverage Industries Business magazine is an independent publication delighted to be a MEDIA PARTNER to

Representing the entire value chain supplying the Brewing, Food & Beverage Industry

Members of

freerbutler limited is a Supplier Associate member of All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any other means, electronic or mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of freerbutler limited. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information in this publication is accurate and up-to-date, freerbutler limited does not take any responsibility for errors or omissions. Opinions expressed in editorial contributions to this publication are those of their respective authors and not necessarily shared by freerbutler limited.

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Word from the BFBi

Ruth Evans MBE

Don’t miss out on the ‘Oscars’

Photo by Gerardo Jaconelli

This blog is an unashamed promotion of the International Brewing & Cider Awards, being held in Manchester, 19-21 March 2024. The Awards are run on a ‘not for profit’ basis, by industry for industry and the only Awards where only commercially practicing brewers and cider makers are invited to judge beers and ciders from around the world on excellence and commercial worth, deeming it truly the ‘Oscars’ of the brewing and cider world.

Founded in 1888 - or 1886 if you believe some reports - the competition came out of the Brewers National Exhibition and Market, convened in 1879 at the Agricultural Hall in Islington, north London. 12 brewers competed, including one from New York, so the competition was international from its very first iteration.

As Adrian Tierney-Jones so very eloquently stated in his history of the competitions,

“Beer is about people. It is about the people who make it and the people who drink it and enjoy it……. Brewing is about people. It is about people as much as it about the process and the keeping of time, the temperature of the mash, the longevity of the boil, the quality of the raw materials and the quantity of shiny stainless steel vessels in which beer makes its temporary home. …..

In the same way, the Competition has always been about people…”

It is this ethos of excellence in the product, production, the people and passion for our industry that I like to think is still kept to the fore of the competition. The competition is about the beer and cider, the brewers and cider makers; the judges and, ultimately about resilience. Over the 125 years it has been held, medal winners have reflected and indicated changes in styles across the world. The Awards has endured two world wars, several temperance campaigns and two global pandemics. I am merely a temporary steward of this historical celebration of what is the best of our brewing and cider industry but I am a very dutiful and proud one and believe strongly that the values, core to the competition, reflect those of our industry – passion and a quest for quality.

I hope that those brewers and cider makers reading this will consider entering, after all, you are being judged by your peers and receiving a medal or even trophy at Guildhall, London on 1st May is a

fantastic occasion to celebrate a worthy achievement.

Registration is open and you can enter your beers and ciders at www.brewingawards.org

Ruth Evans MBE, BFBi C.E.O.

Established in 1907, BFBi’s membership represents the entire value chain supplying the brewing and beverage industry – from seed geneticists through raw materials, brewhouse and process equipment to dispense, point-of-sale and brewers/distillers. The Association’s objective is to be the foremost trade association providing opportunities for its Members to develop within the brewing, food & beverage industry.

As well as offering many benefits and services to suppliers of raw materials, process and packaging machinery, dispense and point of sale products, BFBi is a Trade Challenge Partner for various overseas exhibitions and owner and organiser of the oldest international brewing and cider Awards in the world.

SEE PAGE 66 FOR MORE INFO ON HOW TO JOIN BFBi

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The View Through My Glass Bottom

Julian Grocock

And your specialist subject?...

Don’t be misled. The suggestion of intellect and extensive knowledge implied by this latest title does not mean you are about to meet any potential Mastermind champions – either in the pub where we start, or in the wider world of industry politics that might take us to. Perhaps I’m just being sarcastic? Back in my village local, I’m sitting with the gang, sharing great company, drinking good beer, and enjoying mostly light and light-hearted conversation. But let’s be honest, ‘light and light-hearted’ really is understating the level of weirdness, hilarity – and even idiocy – of many of the topics we find ourselves chatting about... ~ What exactly is the right way to eat baked beans? Mick insists he’ll only have them cold and straight from the can. With a spoon – or is it a fork? The rest of us can’t resist questioning this culinary aberration on a regular basis.

Has anyone else seen sausageshaped clouds recently? Shaggy (not his real name, which I can’t remember but really don’t need to know) draws attention to this bizarre meteorological phenomenon. I ask which of our local counties he’s seen them in, because they’re probably mostly in Lincs. (Think about it.) Andy says there are plenty of mash-shaped clouds that would go with them.

Chris recalls a recent social media post he’s seen, about a drinks article written some years ago by a landlord recounting the time a crazy old customer asked for half a bitter topped up with a tomato juice. Well, I’m proud to acknowledge that I was that publican, and needless to say I delight in retelling the story: ‘It’s a common drink where I’ve been living,’ said the old man. ‘Where’s that, Venus?’ I asked. ‘No, Chicago,’ he replied. That of course prompts an extensive exchange about the strangest drinks we’ve ever encountered – or drunk.

And I’m sorry to discover I’ve gone home just before discussion turns to the trials and tribulations of using a pencil sharpener. How many times must the bloody lead break the very second you create the perfect point? ~ It’s a different and somewhat depleted ‘gang’ at 10pm on a recent Saturday when I pop in for a couple of pints. Only two drinking buddies are there – and they make up forty percent of the total complement of punters. That’s right, five people at the usual prime time for customary gathering.

And please get this in context. This is a lively and regularly patronised country pub; a highly regarded lunchtime and early to mid evening food destination; and a busy enough social community focus to be one of the few places round here that hasn’t felt forced to curtail its later evening trading hours.

So what’s happened on this atypical occasion? The pub a couple of miles away in the next village is combining an evening of live music with a massive 25% discount on all mainstream drinks. This is because it’s a place that has been dying a lingering death, its lease has been sold, and as I write its closure has been announced, pending the arrival of new operators in a few weeks’ time.

All this proves to me is the extent to which price can affect customer loyalty and consequent throughput of drinks – especially important in the case of cask beer, the on-trade draught mainstay that cannot survive without meticulous cellar management and constant sales.

Then I receive the latest CAMRA Beer magazine...

~ There’s no shortage of either campaigning passion or political pragmatism in the early paragraphs of the feature about the new chief executive of SIBA. I know and respect Andy Slee, and do admire his business track record. But I also wonder how the wider membership of cask ale’s consumer organisation will respond to his assertion that the product they champion is not expensive enough, and that a premium price profile is the way forward to secure both an increase in its sales and its long-term prosperity.

If that’s a concept that works in the minds of craft-oriented elitist sippers, my work and leisure experiences on both sides of the bar persuade me it deserves no credit among the everyday suppers who still comprise the backbone of the pub trade. ~ We might well talk plenty of rubbish when the gang gathers in our local. But at the same time we do our bit to maintain the health and vitality and commercial viability of the pub industry that lies at the heart of our social lives.

And our rubbish is never likely to threaten that.

Julian Grocock

Julian Grocock is a former pub landlord, managing director of Tynemill/Castle Rock, and chief executive of SIBA. Extensive experience in beer and pub politics, brewery and pubco operations, and on the front line in the pub trade...‘from cellar to ceiling’.

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Showcasing the British spirit

Alan Powell

WOWGR and duty stamps review – crawling to finishing line

This is a follow-up to my article in the Spring issue (WOWGR and spirits duty stamps - two steps forward, one step back!) At the tail-end of the year, things are crawling forward as I report.

At the Joint Excise Consulting Group (JECG) (ex JATCG) on 4th October, repeal of the requirement for registration of owners of beer and spirits in third party excise warehouse (the “OWG” part of WOWGR) was reiterated to be HMRC’s preferred option under their review of WOWGR, subject to ministerial agreement and a few other anchors to be hauled up. This includes HMRC’s Solicitor’s Office’s advice being sought about the possible use of care and management powers in relation to “mopping up” cases where sanctions under WOWGR have been applied/contested (or could be applied/contested after HMRC makes a formal announcement to repeal WOWGR). In my view, WOWGR has never had any legitimacy, being demonstrably disproportionate (and actually utterly rotten), so any sanctions were always unjust but better late than never. Further to that meeting, on 26 October 2023, sent out a questionnaire which said: “… in March 2022, HMRC announced a review of.. WOWGR… As part of this review and after engaging with key stakeholders, we are developing proposals on how the WOWGR requirements could be reformed. We would like to take views from a wide group of excise stakeholders, including businesses registered with HMRC under the WOWGR provisions.

We are keen to hear from as many affected businesses as possible via a survey that will be live until 29 November 2023.”

This was good to hear and at last some further progress on what is to be hoped will be repeal of the requirement for owners of spirits and beer to be registered with HMRC. I note that several questions relate to the alcohol excise anti-fraud due diligence condition. In that context question 10 states: “Do you have any

suggestions on how the current due diligence regulations could be strengthened?” It is really important to make the point that there are no due diligence regulations – this is not pedantry; rather it is an important matter of law.

Due diligence is a condition set out in a public notice (initially Section 10 of Notice 196) comprising four principles which were determined by the First Tier Tribunal in the Safe Cellars Ltd v HMRC [2017] UKFTT 78 (TC) at paragraph 163 as follows: (1) to assess the risk of alcohol fraud. (2) to make "reasonable and proportionate" checks. (3) procedures to take "effective mitigating action" where a risk is identified. (4)To document what is done.

There are no regulations, just the principles to be observed. BDA and other Industry groups (including the BBPA) frequently report to Policy that HMRC’s officers do not appear to understand these principles or fail to apply them to any meaningful degree. HMRC has now agreed to convene a dedicated JECG on this matter to try to understand industry concerns. In further reference to question 10, if due diligence were to be applied correctly, the condition should suffice as it stands. It need not be “strengthened”. Whether WOWGR for owners exists or note, due diligence must be carried out anyway on the supply chain. Such diligence requires appropriate, reasonable and proportionate application of the principles. It is not a checklist or a counsel of perfection.

Moving on the spirits duty stamps, industry representatives had had further individual meetings with HMRC to discuss the findings of submissions to HMRC’s review announced last December. In our (BDA) meeting in September, I repeated that, like WOWGR, the duty stamps regime was finagled through Parliament after

HMCE realised there was no spirits duty fraud to combat post 1998 and that in fact the idea of duty stamps had been dismissed by a prior review of the HQ Policy unit. As I emphasised to HMRC, we have a law on the statute books that post facto is looking for a reason to exist. I reminded HMRC that the biggest concern for BDA members has been in re-filling empty stamped bottles, especially “off-site” from the distillery/warehouse.

HMRC had said – if I understood correctly - that the response to the consultation indicated in excess of 90% support for repeal of the duty stamps but that some retailers like the “comfort” of the stamped bottles. I understood how this might be the case but in fact the key anti-fraud measure is effective due diligence and understanding the risk of specific fraud in the supply chain, not “dropping guard” because bottles bear a stamp. At the JECG meeting in October, HMRC was asked the status of the review; their minutes record that “We confirmed that there is nothing new to report at present and an update will be given to the JECG as soon as there is anything to share.” So the wheels grind slowly.

Alan Powell

Alan Powell is a specialist excise duties consultant, formerly a Policy official within HMCE’s HQ teams. He is excise duties advisor to the Chartered Institute of Taxation, honorary advisor to the UK Warehousing Association and founded the British Distillers Alliance as a conduit for consultation with, and representation to, Government bodies and to assist and advise on technical matters. The BDA represents distillers, rectifiers and compounders and those in related sectors. New members welcome!

For further information: www.britishdistillersalliance.com

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SHOWCASE Production Equipment

We asked companies supplying the following products and services to let us know something about themselves....

l New / pre-owned production and ancillary equipment available to UK brewers, distillers & cider-makers l Companies that will install your equipment and work with you in commissioning and initial production, in addition to providing tuition

Embracing innovation - Tennent’s Brewery partners with SEEPEX Tennent's Wellpark Brewery is Scotland's oldest brewery, tracing its roots back to the 1500s. Since its establishment in 1885, it has consistently produced awardwinning brews. The brewery's fascinating story revolves around Hugh Tennent, who defied skeptics in 1885 to create Tennent's Lager, initially dubbed a ‘madman's dream’ by newspapers. Today, Tennent’s Lager dominates the Scottish market, accounting for every second pint of lager consumed in the country. Upgrading Brewery Operations for Enhanced Efficiency As part of the process, spent grain is transferred from two mash filters that drain the spent grain to 24%DS. Originally, the spent grain fell from the mash filters into an expeller unit from where it was conveyed over 64m with a 20m elevation to the silo. With the expeller, the grain transfer took ~90 minutes after each brew and used 1,125Nm³ of air. Tennent’s Lager, part of leading drinks manufacturer and distributor C&C Group, is committed to a robust sustainability strategy, exemplified by ambitious carbon reduction targets. These targets aim to achieve a 35% reduction in scope 1 & 2 emissions by 2030 and have been validated by the

Science Based Target initiative.

In recent years Tennent’s has made significant investments in various carbon reduction projects, including carbon capture and anaerobic digestion plants. Additionally, Tennent’s has partnered with SEEPEX to improve energy efficiency in its spent grain transfer process, which is the most air intensive process on site. Improved Efficiency, Productivity, and Energy Savings Together with SEEPEX, Tennent’s explored the benefits of SEEPEX’s cutting-edge Smart Air Injection (SAI) technology. This ground-breaking solution combines an open hopper progressive cavity pump and pneumatic dense-phase conveying to efficiently transfer 15-40%DS spent grains, draff, and hops in plugs. Controlled air pulses enable seamless conveying over long distances.

SEEPEX established the optimum operation point with minimum air consumption to reduce the original air consumption and carbon footprint, and also assessed the energy efficiency in comparison with the initial system. SEEPEX was able to calculate all the consumptions eliminating the need to carry out a trial.

A Path to Sustainability: Scottish Industrial Energy Transformation Fund The demonstrated energy efficiency from SEEPEX Smart Air Injection (SAI) enabled Tennent’s to access the Scottish Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (SIETF), designed to support the development and deployment of technologies that enable businesses Tennent’s Brewery embraces innovation with SEEPEX’s with high energy use Smart Air Injection, revolutionising spent grain transfer to transition to a low efficiency

Tennent’s Brewery achieves 56% air savings with SEEPEX’s SAI technology carbon future. Through this, the government funded 30% of the project.

Decreased Air Use and Transfer Times Air consumption has decreased by an impressive 56%, dropping from ~1,125Nm³ to 500-700Nm³ per brew. Furthermore, there is a decrease in spent grain transfer time associated with the SAI system. The reduction in air use contributes to Tennent’s carbon reduction plan by reducing electricity use within the site.

Seamless Maintenance and Uninterrupted Operation As Tennent’s embraces the future of brewing, it benefits from SEEPEX’s plannedCARE package. This comprehensive service ensures proactive, on-time planned pump maintenance, guaranteeing uninterrupted operation. This includes diagnostics to identify potential issues, enabling planned proactive maintenance for increased uptime and lower total cost of ownership. Tennent's commitment to innovation, efficiency, and sustainability shines through its partnership with SEEPEX. With enhanced efficiency, substantial energy savings, and a focus on seamless maintenance, Tennent's continues to set the benchmark for excellence in the brewing industry.

Join Tennent’s in improving your efficiency and success story. Contact SEEPEX today to explore our innovative pump solutions for the brewing industry and distilleries, addressing your unique pumping challenges.

For further information: www.seepex.com

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SHOWCASE Production Equipment

The next generation of transportation Transporting product from the brewery to canning or bottling plants is a critical step in the beer retailing process, demanding efficient and reliable packaging solutions. The Arlington Bag-in-Box Collapsible IBC stands out as an innovative alternative to traditional Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs), and stainless transport tanks offering distinct advantages in cost-effectiveness, dissolved oxygen management, and environmental sustainability.

The Arlington Bag-in-Box Collapsible IBC presents a game-changing proposition in terms of cost savings. Traditional IBCs often require significant initial investment and can incur hefty expenses in return logistics and storage. In contrast, the collapsible Arlington Beer Combo system dramatically reduces transportation costs when the container is empty and is also offered as a rental option. At 90KG empty, the Beer Combo can be added to return carriage loads of finished product cans or bottles at no additional carriage cost whereas a rigid tank would attract its own carriage charge. Its highly durable all food grade plastic construction is proven to withstand many thousands of transportation cycles as well as reducing the effort, chemicals and energy required to keep it in good operational condition. Additionally, the collapsible design of the Arlington Beer Combo also minimizes storage space requirements. Breweries can save on warehouse costs by utilising the available space more efficiently. Overall, the cost-effectiveness of the format of this system is already a compelling reason for breweries to consider it for product transportation.

Preserving product quality during filling and transportation is paramount, minimising exposure to oxygen is crucial in achieving this goal. Arlington offer a range of liner bags featuring advanced Oxygen barrier materials and integral valved ports which, when combined with their proprietary filling fitments offer industry leading levels of oxygen pickup during filling and transportation as well as effectively shielding the product from any other external contaminants. This significantly reduces the risk of DO and other contaminants. The opaque nature of the box material and in some cases

the liner material ensures the product is kept in the dark during these processes removing the risk of UV Degraedation (or ‘skunking’ to old schoolers) during this time. Both of these factors are important in prolonging the shelf life and preserving the flavour profile of the finished product.

In an era where sustainability is at the forefront of industry concerns, the Arlington Beer Combo IBC aligns perfectly with eco-conscious brewing practices. The system's collapsible design and lightweight materials lead to reduced carbon emissions during transportation. Whilst it is recommended that the liners are only used once, the amount of waste they represent as a percentage of the overall transport packaging is very small. To offset this is the reduction in emissions on return transport and energy and chemicals that would be used for the sanitisation of traditional transport methods.

Analysis conducted by a well known craft brand revealed that by adopting the Arlington Bag-in-Box system they reduced their overall carbon footprint by over 5%, primarily attributed to the system's collapsible design and efficient return logistics. Conclusion: The Arlington Bag-in-Box Collapsible IBC emerges as a groundbreaking solution for breweries seeking to optimize their transportation processes. Its exceptional cost-effectiveness, with

pay as you go rentals, effective dissolved oxygen (DO) management, and positive environmental impact position it as a superior choice compared to traditional rigid options. By embracing this innovative packaging solution, breweries can elevate their operational efficiency, enhance product quality, and contribute to a more sustainable brewing industry. Embrace the future of beer type beverage transportation with the Arlington Beer Combo, bag-in-Box collapsible IBC.

For further information: www.arlingtonpackaging.com

‘Top-notch’ performance from Hypro Hypro is more than just a provider of innovative equipment. We’re your partners in brewing success!

Our dedicated team of experts will be by your side, providing seamless installation, ongoing technical assistance, and guidance every step of the way. Our cutting-edge system has been engineered to elevate your craft and take your brews to new heights of perfection. EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE Capacity starts from 15 hl/hr producing Blend Water for High-Gravity Brewing. Their advanced DeOXY Plant harnesses the power of hot and cold

degassing technology, ensuring precise and efficient oxygen removal. For brewers with space constraints, we offer a dual column design option that optimizes space utilization without compromising on performance. Not only does their DeOXY Plant guarantee top-notch performance, but it also offers low energy consumption, helping you save on operational costs.

Additionally, Hypro has ensured that their system comes with low commissioning costs, making it a cost-effective solution for your brewing needs.

For further information: https://hypro.co.in

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SHOWCASE Production Equipment

Baumer sensors means microbrewer can do Overcoming the challenges associated with developing an innovative bespoke canning machine has been an important achievement for a small microbrewery in Gloucestershire and a critical factor in improving productivity levels.

Established in 2015, the TAP Brewery in Rendcomb near Cirencester has been developing brewing techniques using only the finest locally produced malts resulting in a range of cask, keg and canned beers sold mainly to local pubs and retail outlets. Among the popular brews are Bostin Hoppy, Newted and Iris. Sensing and instrumentation specialist Baumer was pivotal in helping the TAP Brewery by supplying its LBFS Level Sensor and IFRM inductive proximity sensors for the canning machine.

TAP Co-Director Tim Hobbs comments, “Microbreweries like ours are not producing the high volumes which justify the expense of sophisticated canning machines, so usually opt

for barrels and bottles. Now the big thing for us is we can handle around 300 cans per hour and the performance of the Baumer sensors are essential components in the success of our canning machine.”

Tim explained that the determination to persist in developing an effective canning machine came about because of concerns of a high carbon footprint associated with the bottling process. He continues, “Cans are much better for the environment, are easier to pack and transport so we gave ourselves a challenge to design and build a system where we could filter, carbonate and can beer, on a relatively small budget.”

The first canning machine relied on optical sensors to detect foam in the can and it was quickly realised this was not an effective or robust enough option and fill levels could not be relied upon. Also the sensor counting the cans was a photoelectric optical eye sensor and due to its shiny, reflective nature the aluminium would give false or multiple readings. These issues were resolved once the Baumer sensors were installed, with the LBFS sensor providing accurate and repeatable fill levels regardless of the

presence of foam, meaning that the cans did not need to be manually wiped. Secondly, the IFRM proximity sensor overcame the reflective issues of the aluminium cans, providing the required levels of accuracy and repeatability.

Tim confirmed, “The success of canning machine project was a real in-house team effort with design and manufacture down to himself and his brother Pete Hobbs, along with Oliver Ursell’s electronic wizardry. We received great customer service and technical help from BAUMER even though we are a small microbrewer. They gave us good advice from the concept of the canning machine, right through to completion, even visiting us to advise, nothing was too much trouble.” Even though a Baumer 9701 Flex Programmer was an added cost they soon appreciated that when combined with the LBFS sensors, they acknowledged it was much more versatile and meant they could adjust the foam sensing range without having to carry out a sample test, unlike other sensors on the market.

For further information: www.baumer.com/gb/en/

Montelektro provides solution for Heineken

Montelektro, one of the leading automation companies in the food and beverage sector, has continued its long-term cooperation with one of its biggest clients, Heineken.

other food and beverage plants worldwide.

The development of this MES solution results from the valuable knowledge and experience that Montelektro experts have gained in over thirty years of delivering automation and electrical engineering solutions to breweries and

For a customer-oriented company that follows the Client's needs, the logical next step was the development of DFP. This unique software solution offers both standard modules and additional options adapted to Clients' specific needs. The

Digital Industry Platform - DFP, the latest solution developed by Montelektro, has been recently successfully implemented in the Albert Maltings plant in Ruisbroek, Belgium, a project that digitalises production in the plant.

By implementing various Process Control Systems (PCS) in different process parts of the plants and completing greenfield, brownfield, and revamping projects, the Montelektro engineering team obtained a deep understanding of the processing technology and the particularities of the brewing and food and beverage industry.

Digital Factory Portal allows detailed insight into all production process phases by examining process and product quality data. Commissioning the DFP in this Belgian malting plant is also the first-ever implementation of this platform by Montelektro. The company's management plans to develop and deliver customised solutions to other clients in the brewing and food and beverage industry since the DFP platform can cover various process technologies, and its installations can comply with various and specific customer requests.

For further information: info@montelektro.hr

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SHOWCASE Production Equipment

Demand for upgrades urges as independent brewers invest in self-sufficiency A brewery equipment specialist is experiencing a surge in demand from independent brewers investing in its facilities to increase their self-sufficiency and reduce running costs. Bradford-based Collective Motion Brewing has received orders from breweries across the UK upgrading and expanding their machinery and technology to eliminate the expense of outsourced services. Dominic Smith, Director at Collective Motion Brewing, said: “While the core elements of their operation are carried out in-house, many SMEs rely on external suppliers for some of the costlier processes involved in the dayto-day running of a brewery, from keg washing to carbonation. Having that capability on their own premises enables higher efficiency, lower overheads and faster turnaround. Brewers are increasingly thinking about the long-term and realising that investing now can deliver big savings in the future.”

Lancashire-based Farm Yard Brew Co is one of many independent brewers to identify the potential gains. The company commissioned Collective Motion Brewing to refurbish a secondhand keg washer-filler machine and oversee its installation along with software, pipelines and a steam boiler. Steve Holmes, Farm Yard Brew Co founder and managing director, said: “The combined purchase and

installation costs of the second-hand machine amounted to around £40,000, saving us between £90,000 to £100,000 on the equivalent costs for a brand-new machine. We used to outsource our keg washing, but doing it in-house is making big savings on running costs.

Washing previously cost us £6 per keg and now it’s just £2.50 per keg, not to mention all the time savings involved. We think that the machine will pay for itself within two years.”

Based in Radcliffe, near Bury, Brightside Brewing had similar objectives in mind when they approached Collective Motion Brewing to supply a brand-new kegging machine alongside a refurbished carbonation kit and a refurbished filtration kit. Lance Friedrich, brewery director at Brightside Brewing, said: “We’re very happy with the results – it has improved our efficiency and we estimate that it will save us around £50,000 per year in running costs.”

On the other side of the Pennines, Brew York asked Collective Motion Brewing to expand their existing kegging equipment and make some technical adjustments which would enable the brewery to

turbo-charge production.

Lee Grabham, co-founder and owner of Brew York, said: “Collective Motion Brewing implemented the hardware and software changes to add an additional head to our keg washer filler. In doing so they have allowed us to more than double the throughput capability of the machine for both washing and filling. “Since the implementation, we have achieved our record ever packaging week as so much more can be achieved in the same time and with the same resources!” Collective Motion Brewing supplies brand-new and second-hand equipment throughout the UK, backed by full technical support and maintenance services.

For further information: https://cmbrewery.co.uk/

New G-TEC Air Compressor workstation from FPS is ‘industry game-changer’

The new G-TEC Air Compressor from FPS provides a complete compressed air workstation with ‘game-changing’ capabilities. This 6-in-1 offer comprises a highperformance compressor, refrigerated dryer, dual filtration, 270/500 litre air receiver, oil-water separator and controller, making the G-TEC Air Compressor an optimal and most

convenient choice, for a whole host of applications.

Avoiding the need for many individual components that typically form part of a complex compressed air system, the G-TEC workstation features an integrated and modular design that saves space, reduces installation and improves efficiency. It delivers outstanding performance, producing a

consistent supply of compressed air to power a wide range of pneumatic tools and machinery. With its high-efficiency motor and innovative design, this complete workstation also meets the growing demand for more sustainable and cost-effective compressed air solutions.

For further information: www.fps-compressors.co.uk

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SHOWCASE Production Equipment

Less is more: Unlocking the distilling potential with small stills

n the world of distillation, bigger is not always better. The misconception that only large, industrialscale distilling equipment can yield substantial returns has dominated the industry for years

It's time to embrace the concept that "less is more." A relatively small and inexpensive piece of distilling equipment, such as a 50-litre pot still, can open the doors to a world of opportunity, innovation, and high returns. One of the primary advantages of using a small pot still is its potential for versatility. By distilling a pre-existing alcohol base, be it neutral spirit, rum, or any other spirit, and rectifying it with botanicals, distillers can create a big range of products. Think botanical spirits like gin and spiced rum, flavoured vodka, and a variety of premium spirits which cater to the soaring demand in today's market. Additionally, the emerging trend of canned/bottled cocktails and ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages presents another avenue for innovation and profit. Here's the kicker: When making gin or other botanical spirits, a pot still's capacity, say 50 litres, does not limit you

to a mere 50 litres of distilled product. By adjusting the botanical-to-spirit ratio – for instance, doubling the botanical load in your still while maintaining the same amount of base spirit – you can craft concentrates that could then be 'diluted' with your base spirit in proportion to the original recipe, before proofing with water. This approach can result in a volume that is bigger than the still's nominal capacity. In fact, this ratio can be further increased from 2:1 up to 10:1 or even higher, exponentially increasing your production output. The possibilities extend by creating a library of single botanical distillates. These can be leveraged to produce a range of products, from liqueurs to bottled cocktails and non-alcoholic spirits, or even utilized as flavouring agents for beers and ciders.

The cherry on top? Small pot stills are cost-effective economical, and occupy minimal space in your existing premises. The initial investment in such equipment starts as low as £11,000 for a robust, commercial-grade unit. Even better, customization options are available at little to no extra cost, enabling you to tailor your equipment to your specific needs.

The "less is more" philosophy has never been truer in the world of distillation. Small stills can offer the perfect blend of flexibility, efficiency, and affordability, allowing distillers to explore new horizons, increase their product output, and maximize their profits. So, whether you're a seasoned distiller or an aspiring one, consider the potential of these small but mighty machines to revolutionise your craft and business.

For further information: www.thecraftdistillingbusiness.com

Accurate flow rate reading from Bürkert Type 8756

To optimise measurement and control accuracy for low liquid volumes, Coriolis sensors are often the prime technology choice.

Providing a true mass flow reading with accuracy down to ±0.2%, these devices are also highly repeatable. Coriolis technology is suited to applications that must ensure precise flow control, to meet quality requirements in beverage products. However, high accuracy over low liquid volumes can also save costs long term when expensive media is involved.

To achieve high accuracy fluid control and metering for applications like these, the original theory came from the nineteenth century Parisien mathematician and scientist, GaspardGustave de Coriolis. He discovered an

effect that relates to an inertial force acting on objects in motion within a rotating system. In the field of liquid and gas flow, Coriolis control and metering devices involve a suspended, S-shaped measuring tube, set in high-frequency magnetic vibration by an exciter coil. When a liquid flows through the tube, the liquid’s inertia acts on the tube’s vibration, causing what’s known as a phase shift. This vibrational change is directly proportional to the mass flow of the liquid, and is measured by two sensors, positioned at each end of the tube. The higher the flow rate, the greater the oscillation deflections of the measuring tube.

This process can also provide a density reading of the flowing liquid by measuring the vibration frequency, instead of the oscillation deflections. The

higher the density, the lower the frequency. In fact, with a Coriolis-based device, it’s possible to simultaneously measure mass flow, volumetric flow, density and temperature. In recent years, technology has allowed the Coriolis principle to be used for increasingly lower flow rates, enabling dosing of the smallest volume of liquids, precisely, quickly, and repeatably.

Bürkert’s Type 8756 mass flow meter/controller, based on the Coriolis effect, has a flow rate accuracy reading as low as ±0.2%. This is achieved with a repeat accuracy deviation of just ±0.1% for a flow rate up to 25 kg/h, or ±0.05% repeatability for a flow rate up to 120 kg/h.

For further information: www.burkert.co.uk

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SHOWCASE Production Equipment

Atlanta UK launches ‘game-changing’ compact ring pallet wrapper Packaging technology and machinery specialist, Atlanta UK, has unveiled the latest innovative product from the Atlanta group of companies - the Nova compact ring pallet wrapper.

For decades, traditional pallet stretch wrapping has been used in sectors such as food manufacturing, brewing, beverages and the broader industrial space in the UK. However, with evolving film technologies, increasing environmental concerns, budgetary constraints and ever-changing regulations, traditional solutions may not be the optimal or eco-friendly choice. In meeting these challenges, Atlanta Stretch, Europe’s leading manufacturer of pallet wrapping equipment, conducted extensive research and development to create the Nova. A key feature of the Nova is its compact design. It is tailored to fit seamlessly into the spaces previously occupied by many older wrapping machines. This ensures that businesses won't face logistical challenges in changing their setup. By retaining their existing conveyors, guarding and operational areas, installation disruptions can be minimised. Furthermore, Nova's small size makes it easy to transport, unload and set up. The Nova stands at the forefront of film technology. It is built to be compatible with the latest ultra-thin nano films and those with recycled content, and boasts an ‘infinite contact’ pre-stretching

mechanism. This innovative feature ensures precision in film elongation, ensuring that each wrap uses the minimum amount of film necessary. This in turn promotes environmental sustainability and provides a costeffective solution for businesses keen on reducing waste and expense.

Safety is paramount in any industrial application and the Nova doesn't disappoint. It is equipped with the most advanced safety features available and meets the standards set by current lifting legislation. This commitment to safety and compliance sets the Nova apart from many outdated models currently on the market. Businesses can be assured that the Nova is equipped with the latest controls, backed by Atlanta UK’s full support for years to come.

In an era where automation is rapidly transforming supply chains, the Nova is future-ready. It is designed to ensure that every pallet is wrapped to perfection, ensuring a neat no tails finish to every pallet. This attention to detail eliminates the regular maintenance associated with other models, providing businesses with a hassle-free wrapping solution that integrates smoothly with automated processes.

No two pallets are the same and the Nova is built with this variability in mind. Whether pallets are irregular, misshapen, or use networks where pallets are frequently transferred between different locations, the Nova offers a range of smart solutions. These features work in tandem to protect goods from potential damage, ensuring that every shipment reaches its destination in pristine condition, free from slippage or damage. Commenting on the launch, Roger Cope, technical director at Atlanta UK, said: “The Nova offers solutions to some of the major challenges faced by the food and industrial manufacturing sectors. It is easy to install and maintain, which significantly reduces the cost of operation and ownership compared to other alternatives.”

For further information: https://atlantauk.com

Pentair hits the road with the ‘Geheltebus’!

The Pentair Haffmans Gehaltebus, a quality control demonstration lab on wheels, has been touring across Mainland Europe and North America this Autumn. The Gehaltebus is a cargo van outfitted as a working demonstration lab and showroom for live testing of packaged beer.

While on site the Gehaltebus enabled visitors to: • Experience a live demonstration of a

selection of Pentair Haffmans Quality Control instruments. • Have their beer tested. • Examine theirstandards by testing O2, CO2, turbidity, foam and pasteurisation processes. • Meet with specialists to discuss quality and service needs. • Become acquainted with Pentair’s latest innovations in quality control. • Access on-demand servicing . It has proved to be a perfect opportunity for breweries to experience the Pentair Haffmans

Quality Control Solutions firsthand and access over 75 years of market leading expertise in quality control equipment innovation.

The UK and Ireland leg of the tour ran from the 4th September to the 6th October.

Follow its journey on LinkedIn by following the hashtag #GehaltebusTour2023.

For further information: sales.uk@pentair.com

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SHOWCASE Production Equipment

Universal Engineers launches rescue line for ageing brewing kit

Yorkshire’s Universal Engineers company is offering expertise in rescuing and maintaining ageing brewing equipment as independent brewers face today’s economic challenges Along-side this work, Universal’s experience has also enabled the company to design, develop and manufacture a range of cask and keg packaging machines - from cask/keg washers, keg fillers, cask rackers, de-palletisers, conveyor systems and small pack fillers - as well as assemble automated machinery for both small and large-scale breweries.

Established in 2005 as Dean Farm Fabrications under proprietor Daryl Buckley, the company began predominantly providing high quality fabrication solutions across a variety of industries – including heating, ventilation and cooling, oil & gas. The business expansion into the brewing sector builds on the expertise developed in recent years by brothers Michael and Matthew Buckley, both with extensive experience in the brewing fabrication business.

Operations director Michael and technical director Matthew joined Universal as part of the business building programme. The team was further strengthened with Marcus Holmes appointed as design engineer in 2022. Both Michael and Marcus previously held posts with Leeds-based brewery equipment manufacturers Brewology and Microdat.

history of providing engineering solutions across several industry sectors, we have expanded our services into the brewing industry to draw on the wealth of experience and expertise which Matthew, Marcus and I have built up over several years in the sector. We can tackle any aspect of bespoke support and maintenance services. We are particularly well qualified to provide these services to independent brewers with machinery supplied by the Brewology & Microdat companies, due to our knowledge and familiarity of the high quality, bespoke machinery they produced.”

Recently the company has successfully worked with several award-winning independent brewers across the UK, including Rudgate Brewery in Tockwith, York, where a full annual service was carried out on a Brewology-supplied cask racking head - prolonging the life by replacing cap heads with stainless alternatives.

At the North Wales-based Purple Moose Brewery in Porthmadog, Universal provided maintenance services to repair a leaking fermentation vessel. This demanded non-destructive testing on the vessel and the fabrication of worn and holed areas to bring the vessel back into full working order. In Manchester the company conducted the modification of 50hl & 80hl brewing vessels with heating/cooling jackets and cladding and also modified a vessel into

an “aerator”, helping to scale-up the production of Kombucha. Universal Engineers has also helped a brewpub In France to modify a small-scale brew plant, adding cooling jackets and cladding to grundy tanks. Michael Buckley adds: “There’s no doubt that this is a very challenging time for brewers as many fight hard against the ever-mounting economic problems. We aim to provide a very comprehensive fast, responsive, highly professional and cost-effective rescue and repair service to help them meet these challenges. “Additionally, the wealth of experience and knowledge we have gained throughout our careers in the brewing industry and with more recent projects has enabled us to design and develop an innovative range of cask and keg packaging machines. These are very much aimed at helping those brewers who are aspiring to scale up in the face of today’s economic and environmental challenges.”

For further information: info@universalengineers.co.uk

Krones scoring highly in EcoVadis rating Michael said: “Following Universal’s long

The Krones Group was awarded a gold medal in the latest round of the distinguished EcoVadis sustainability rating. “That’s solid recognition of our work and an important signal to all stakeholders: Our ESG performance is getting ever closer to reaching our ambitious sustainability aspirations and goals,” says Peter Steger, Head of Corporate Sustainability, referring to the results

achieved in recent years when the technology group was awarded the silver medal twice in succession.”

“Anyone who is serious about sustainability must include all the entities of a conglomerate. The high complexity of our group has been a real challenge right from the start,” adds Peter Steger. “That’s why we joined forces with all ESG-relevant specialist departments and internationalcoordinators. In the last few years, every one of us has been

working hard to put in place a uniform set of standards, requirements and monitoring processes which is valid throughout the group.”

Krones at present shares its EcoVadis Scorecard with customers round the globe, ranging from small businesses right up to big conglomerates.

For further information: www.krones.com/en

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SHOWCASE Production Equipment

Shaping the future of beverage crafting

Welcome to Vitikit Limited, your premier destination for cuttingedge wine, cider, distilling, and brewing equipment, including top-tier solutions for craft beverage production.

As industry leaders, we proudly partner with global suppliers, offering a carefully curated selection of products sourced both internationally and within the UK. Craft Beverage Mastery Vitikit stands at the forefront of craft beverage equipment, having nurtured strong relationships with top manufacturers over the years. Our state-of-the-art machinery empowers beverage producers to elevate their craft, creating outstanding drinks that set them apart in the market.

Brewing Brilliance with V-Brew In synergy with V-Brew, our subsidiary, we provide a comprehensive range of brewing equipment suitable for crafting any beer variety. Whether your passion lies in craft beer, ale, stout, or lager,

Vitikit ensures brewers have access to the tools they need to achieve perfection.

Cider, Wine, and Spirits Excellence Embark on a journey of excellence with our cider making equipment, designed for crafting unique blends of delicious apples. Our winemaking equipment covers the spectrum of sparkling wines, whites, roses, and reds. Additionally, we offer high-quality distilling equipment for the production of premium gin, whisky, rum, and cachaca.

Innovation in Kombucha Witness the latest trend in the UK market with Vitikit's introduction of Kombucha—a fermented tea product renowned for its health benefits comparable to cider vinegar. Responding to the surge in demand, we supply Kombucha producers with cutting-edge equipment. Our partner, Romfil, recently delivered a crossflow

filter to a Kombucha producer in France, showcasing our commitment to global innovation.

Navigate our Vitikit site confidently, discovering everything needed to transform creative ideas into delightful beverages. Our dedicated team is ready to assist in selecting the ideal equipment or specialised tools for your unique drink creation. Cheers to innovation, quality, and the art of beverage production at Vitikit Limited!

For further information: www.vitikit.com

The Institute of Brewing & Distilling launches Spirit Sensory Analysis, its first course for distillers

The Spirit Sensory Analysis on-demand course enables distillers to understand spirit flavour and implement an effective system of sensory analysis in their distilleries.

The Institute of Brewing & Distilling (IBD), the most widely recognised learning provider of technical education in the brewing industry in the world, has launched a brand new technical selfassessed and on demand technical course - Spirit Sensory Analysis. This new short course is the first continuing professional development course for distillers from the IBD. Spirit Sensory Analysis is aimed at distillers and quality professionals working in distilleries of all sizes, wanting to improve product quality using sensory analysis.

The Spirit Sensory Analysis course provides the knowledge and tools required to understand and control spirit flavour. It will enable learners to run a range of sensory tests, assess the results and ultimately improve their

production process and products. The course is provided in an engaging, interactive and multimedia format. This course has been developed in collaboration with leading sensory scientists and distilling professionals. It provides the same technical excellence found in all IBD qualifications, with the benefit of not needing to sit a formal exam.

The course includes a downloadable PDF with technical information such as: • The basis of spirit flavour • The descriptors and thresholds of over 300 key flavour compounds • Spirit flavour terminology systems and flavour wheels • Tasting forms for more than 10 sensory tests • The statistical tables, equations and calculations to interpret test results The course features text, videos, animations, quizzes, and games to help enhance learning. At the end of the course, learners receive a Certificate of Completion. On this announcement, Stuart Howe,

Technical Learning and Development Manager, explains: “Whatever the size of your distillery, this course should help you better understand spirit flavour and to get the best value from your sensory endeavours. It may also save you spending money on the services of companies providing sensory management systems and training. We are confident that not only will you enjoy the course, but it will also benefit your career, your distillery, your products, your consumers and your sales volumes!” Tom Shelston, IBD Chief Executive Officer, comments: “The Spirit Sensory Analysis Course is our 5th short course within a year, showing the IBD commitment to establish a richer continuous professional development pathway in the drinks industry. This new short course shows our commitment to reinforce our learning offering for the spirits sector as this is our first on demand technical course for distillers”.

For further information: www.ibd.org.uk

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FOCUS Cider

We asked companies supplying the UK CIDER market to let us know something about their products and services.

Healeys Cornish Cyder installs an 80-hour Monobloc keg washer filler from Lambrechts Lambrechts has supplied Healeys Cornish Cyder with an 80-hour Monobloc keg washer filler. The installation was one of a number of projects by Lambrechts, working with UK cider makers and also breweries. Amongst them was a problem facing Sirencraft brewery in Berkshire, where space and labour were at a premium, but you still have to package the evergrowing demand for your keg products. Comments Lambrechts UK spokesman Mike Hickman, “It was Lambrechts who supplied the solution with the 2x washing head 1x filling head Monobloc slimline 5O, with a machine footprint of only 4.5m length x 1.7m width it was an ideal for the limited space available, whilst achieving the desired target of 55 kegs sterilized and filled per hour.

“Supplied with its own infeed and take off conveyor and incorporating the almost silent walking beam keg transfer

mechanism, the MB50 following FAT testing at the Lambrechts facility near Antwerp offers brewers and cider makers a ‘’plug and play’’ solution. With commissioning and training carried out on site in usually three days. The MB50 has its 316 stainless media tanks, usually hot water, acid, and caustic located under the keg transfer mechanism so saving space. it’s also green as it’s supplied with a hot water recirculation tank using the last wash for the first rinse saving 11 litres of hot water per keg, that’s over 500 litres of hot water saved per hour. With its world-renowned build quality, using common valves and process heads across its range, Lambrechts continues to be a great proven longterm investment and reliable work horse for decades. Preventative and planned maintenance are achieved through an internet connection allowing our engineers to monitor real time your machine when in

operation, superb for diagnostics and fault finding.

With recent larger installs of machines at Belhaven in Dunbar operating at 240 kegs per hour and Robinsons in Stockport at 80 kph., Lambrechts has the range of equipment and knowhow to help with your increased kegging demands including mechanical handling, palletising, robotics, or external keg washing.

Glass is first choice for cider makers

Cider makers looking for a packaging material that combines visual appeal with sustainability should look no further than glass.

Clark’s amber bottles contain over 56% recycled materials, 20% more than white flint glass.

“Most of our cider customers choose amber glass for its protective characteristics,” said Charlotte. “Our amber bottles are ideal for cider and other alcoholic beverages as they offer over 90% protection from ultraviolet light which could harm the cider inside the bottle.”

The option of embossing words, logos and patterns onto glass containers can elevate a brand and achieve better shelf presence. Recent advances in technology have revolutionised what Beatson Clark’s in-house design team can now achieve with embossing, and using the latest sculpting software means that the results are better defined and easier to manufacture.

So says Charlotte Pike, Marketing Manager at Beatson Clark, the only independently owned glassworks in the UK. The company has served the cider making sector for many years and currently supplies glass packaging to brands such as Aspall Cider, Dunkertons and Sandford Orchards.

Amber glass offers other advantages too: its rich, dark colour is visually appealing for the consumer, and Beatson

“Our standard amber cider bottles are very popular, and for a small extra cost we can customise them to reflect the brewery’s branding,” Charlotte continued. “We offer embossing options on our standard bottles, perfect for ordering in smaller volumes, as well as more tailored services including bespoke bottle design, decoration and crowns.”

“Nine out of every ten bespoke designs we produce for our customers includes unique embossing – names, straplines,

For further information: Mike Hickman - 07538 069886 mike.hickman56@outlook.com

logos or patterns embossed on the glass to enhance its appeal and make the container truly unique,” said Charlotte. “We can be flexible on production volumes, so no matter how large or small your operation, why not get in touch to see how we can help?”

For further information: www.beatsonclark.co.uk sales@beatsonclark.co.uk

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FOCUS Cider

TecFlo’s complete coupler range for cider kegs

TecFlo has been active in the technical drinks dispense market for more than three decades. The Manchester-based company supplies all national companies that deliver cider into the on-trade.

TecFlo offers a complete range of Couplers including Grundy, Sankey, U Type, A Type and D Type. With the exception of the U Type, all couplers in both Mark 1 (standard) and Patented Mark 2 design are offered. Patented Mark 2 features the double vertical gas and product line, preventing ‘kinking’ of the pipe on the gas inlet. Grundy couplers are available in both Stainless Steel and Brass material, with all couplers offered using Stainless Steel, which is a harder material and supports the prevention of wear on the

lugs of the coupler.

TecFlo also has more than four million fob detectors in trade, with continuous development taking place across all product lines. The company also offers a range of snap-in fittings, generic in sizing, each with a TecFlo-owned tool. Over a million have been sold, each with a lifetime guarantee Options from TecFlo include: • We are open to discussion on the approach to retain consignment stock, which would be held under an agreed commercial arrangement. • We will present a commercial to replace ‘rough/old’ stock in trade with a new coupler on a 1-for-1 basis. New for old will accept ANY coupler, not just a TecFlo coupler, as part of the scheme Metal cleaning sockets are available for

Cider-making equipment by Vitikit At the core of cider production lies the crucial stage of apple pressing, and Vitikit Limited ensures its clientele has access to cutting-edge apple pressing equipment.

In collaboration with Šraml, a leading European manufacturer of fruit processing machinery, Vitikit Limited delivers top-notch solutions for apple juice extraction on an industrial scale. The belt press, renowned in the food industry, takes centre stage, with Šraml offering a variety of single and double belt presses, each boasting distinct capacities and specifications.

In the realm of pasteurisation, Šraml's plate flash pasteurisers excel at heating liquid products to pasteurisation temperature, maintaining the temperature for the required duration, and swiftly cooling the product thereafter. The pasteuriser's heat source includes options such as oil, gas-fired burners, electric heaters, or steam. An intuitive touchscreen interface facilitates easy control of the pasteurisation process, and a dedicated cleaning program ensures efficient post-use cleanup. Assembled on a robust stainless steel frame with adjustable feet, the pasteuriser embodies stability and durability. For the final stages of processing, Šraml introduces the CP fillers series, featuring counter-pressure fillers ideal for carbonated or still (cold or hot) liquids in bottles or cans. These mechanical fillers employ reliable cams to execute individual filling steps seamlessly.

The rotary carousel

the range. Please note on the above options that eligibility criteria applies. To discuss any of our products or request a quote, please contact our team in Manchester.

For further information: Tel: 0161 703 7185 tec-flo.co.uk

and pressure bowl, coupled with filling valves, enable continuous motion filling of multiple bottles or cans simultaneously without interruption. Precise plc control, courtesy of a digital pressure sensor, maintains tank pressure within ±0.05 bar of the set pressure. Filling valves, constructed from machined stainless-steel components without welds or threads in contact with the product, ensure a gentle pour, minimizing product agitation. Filling height adjustment is facilitated by changing the filling tubes on the valve.

Vitikit extends an invitation for inquiries and collaboration. For questions or discussions regarding cider production setups and product improvement, contact the expert team at info@vitikit.com. Vitikit stands ready to leverage its experience in optimizing cider-making processes for your benefit.

For further information: info@vitikit.com

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Cask and Keg Repair & Refurbishment Specialists

• Tecflo stainless steel chromed tap complete with: flow control • 5/16 inlet • 3 years warranty • Available with or without a handle, with or without creamer plates

l A Genuine Alternative to Cask and Keg Replacement l Repairs to casks and kegs of all sizes l We can supply refurbished casks too l Fast On-Site Turnaround l Competitive Rates l Over 60 years of Industry Experience

All in stock

Please contact us for details of our other onsite services.

Head Office: 01283 740807 • Mob: 07952 152 099 Email: repairs@dhmbreweryservices.co.uk • Contact: Jason Miller

Web: www.dhmbreweryservices.co.uk • Twitter: @DHMBreweryServ

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FOCUS Cider

Vigo increases bottling efficiencies at Rich’s Cider Farm with new automatic bottling and capping line

Rich’s Cider Farm approached Vigo with a requirement for an automatic carbonated bottling and capping line with a production speed of 700-900 bottles per hour. The line needed to accommodate both carbonated and still products; and crown and ROPP capped bottles. Following consultation between Vigo and Rich’s Cider Farm, a proposal was drawn up to supply a Rizzolio automatic filling and capping machine with two capping heads and additional fill tubes to achieve different fill heights. (Model ISO AUTO 6.1C.1VA). Additional conveyoring was factored in to accommodate an existing Vigo supplied labelling machine, whilst working within space constraints at the end of the line, for accumulating bottles ready for pasteurisation. Vigo had previously successfully

installed a similar Rizzolio line at Polgoon Vineyard in Penzance. It was arranged for George Scott (Head Cider Maker at Rich’s Cider Farm) to visit and see the line in operation. Following the go-ahead, the new line - incorporating various filling modes including double pre-evacuation with double CO2 injection - was set up, installed, and commissioned by Vigo’s engineering team.

Andy Pegman, Division Director for Vigo, commented, “We were delighted to work with the team at Rich’s cider Farm on this exciting project for their packaging facility after so many years of working together.” George Scott, Rich’s Cider Farm Head Cider Marker, commented, “Vigo engineering and aftercare is second to none. Whilst other options were available, the service and quality Vigo provide, counted. The installation and commissioning process was seamless

with the correct technical support available to ensure we were able to start production within a matter of days.”

Vigo’s full case study is available to view on its website - www.vigoltd.com/ Case-Studies/richs-cider-filling Vigo is part of the Rawlings Group. Specialising within the packaging and drink processing equipment industry

For further information: www.rawlingsbristol.co.uk

EA Vaculiq set for ‘mouth-watering’ UK launch

Market leading technology specialist GEA is relaunching the Vaculiq juicer into the UK market following tremendous success worldwide – from Scandinavia and Spain to India and Japan. The compact, mobile machine juices or purées any fruit or vegetable to create virtually unadulterated, high-demand food or beverage products. The Vaculiq, GEA’s patented no-oxygen solution, is perfect for artisan juice makers who are currently pressing their fruit manually or with belt pressers. The Vaculiq is speedier and cleaner, plus the lack of an atmosphere means a fresher juice is produced overall, retaining that all-important flavour, yield, and quality. Ideal for small to medium-sized beverage producers, the Vaculiq makes a final product that diverges minimally from the raw ingredients, retaining the colours, vitamins, and polyphenols from the original fruits and vegetables. The ground-breaking technology achieves this via its vacuum spiral filter – a

significant feature that is completely unrivalled in the juicing market.

Furthermore, the solid content and viscosity of the extracted juices or purées can be easily specified during the machine’s setup or before each run. Available in three standardised plug & play capacities (between 1000 and 3000 litres per hour), the machine is practically ready out of the box, and potentially offers a solid ROI in 18 months to two years after purchase.

GEA, one of the world’s largest technology suppliers for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical sectors, has seen the machine grow in popularity on the continent as the demand for artisanal juices has grown. As consumer behaviour changes and demand develops, large supermarkets are stocking more and more SMEmanufactured products such as artisan juices. Jason Hewitt, GEA Business Manager – Beverage and Dairy, explained: “The Vaculiq is a unique technology that is perfect for niche juice makers. It’s certainly proven its worth globally – yet

UK beverage producers are really missing out. There is great technological and commercial potential in this machine, with a very impressive ROI, and it is something the UK beverages market will find of massive benefit.” Tackling food waste is a vital component in GEA’s environmental pledges and the Vaculiq saves both valuable components from the raw ingredient. The primary product (the juice) and the secondary by-product (the pomance) are preserved. This is advantageous as it allows the by-product to be reused in another application.

For further information: gea.com

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SHOWCASE Business Services

We asked companies supplying the following products and services to let us know something about themselves.... l Insurance, financial and legal services, recruitment, business training and other business services l Hardware & software designed to smooth administration and production flow l Drinks wholesaling and distribution, plus associated sales consultancies and websites

Embracing the opportunities of retail and hospitality in 2024

By Adam Drawwater, Commercial Director, Moorgate Finance

Conquering your local area is a savvy first step for any brewery. Delivering beer to the pubs and shops on your doorstep is a hugely rewarding experience. Next, customers may start looking for your products further afield, in pubs and supermarkets on a national scale. So how do you take the leap into wholesale and still balance the books?

Raising funds to increase market power and customer demand is important. If you can secure funding to power up your marketing efforts and create a natural demand in retail and hospitality venues, then you’re halfway to success. A business loan can be great for boosting cash flow, giving you a lump sum to support campaigns. Whether you’re a sole trader or a national

brewery, a business loan can provide suitable funding.

Once you’ve raised the funds and created enough demand to give the green light on retail, it’s time to look at invoicing.

Invoicing terms by supermarket and pub chains can be lengthy, putting additional pressure on your cash flow. What should be an exciting next step for your brewery business can result in headaches and sleepless nights due to a severe dip in working capital. However, releasing cash tied up in invoices can provide a perfect go-to solution. Cash flow boosting finance can support businesses who may be on longer payment terms, allowing them to get paid often within 24 hours.

Using a service like this presents opportunities to your brewery that wouldn’t be otherwise viable, like the ability to accept 60-90 payment terms from a national supermarket.

Equipment Finance is also a helpful funding tool for breweries. Taking on something like a supermarket contract can hugely increase production levels almost overnight. It may be that your brewery needs to upgrade equipment or expand into canning. Doing so through Equipment Finance again protects your business and keeps a healthy working cash flow.

Whatever your expansion plans look like for 2024, there are many funding solutions to make things more affordable and bring those dreams to life. Moorgate Finance are brewery specialists and are always happy to support.

For further information: info@moorgatefinance.co.uk

New app-building service launched for breweries

Breweries and B2B wholesalers in the beverage industry can now offer their customers an ‘Amazon-style’ sales experience following the launch of a new affordable app-building service that is set to revolutionise the industry by making digital commerce accessible for businesses of all sizes.

Designed to help breweries better connect with their customers, the customisable ‘Off The Shelf’ platform has been launched by DueTrade, a technology company helping B2B wholesale businesses to embrace digitalisation. The platform supports those in the industry who want a more efficient way of trading with customers - without the hefty price tag associated with developing a bespoke app. The new cost-effective platform

allows them to trade goods, share promotions, offer 24/7 ordering, and improve brand awareness through a simple, user-friendly ordering app that doesn’t cost the earth.

As latest research shows that 83 percent of B2B decision-makers prefer using self-service tools for reordering rather than talking to a sales representative, 1 and 73 percent of B2B buyers want a B2C like experience 2, the new platform gives businesses the opportunity to improve their customer experience, increase revenue and give themselves the competitive advantage.

Rather than processing sales manually, either over the phone or via email, customers can place orders at the click of a button via the app. Ordering can be done at any time or day, with quick and easy payment. Buyers use secure profiles to save

delivery and payment details for easy reordering and can view their order history, pending orders, favourites and the status of deliveries, for a totally seamless sales experience. By fully integrating with existing sales, accounting and stock monitoring software, the platform saves valuable time and resources for both the end customer and brewery sales teams.

For breweries and wholesalers, the app can help increase trade orders, enhance customer relationships and save time on inbound enquiries. Customers are updated in real-time with the latest offers and promotions, while the app can be customised with brewery branding to strengthen brand awareness and ensure each business app looks cutting edge.

For further information: www.duetrade.co.uk

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SHOWCASE Business Services

‘Once in a generation opportunity’ for brewers

A new report has highlighted a “once in a generation” opportunity for the brewing industry to meet shifting consumer demands for sustainability.

The report - ‘Building sustainability into brewing’ - has been published by food and beverage manufacturing consultancy, NIRAS, and explores how a combination of new regulation and consumer pressure means that sustainability is fast becoming a “licence to operate”, rather than a “nice-to-have”.

Jonas B. Borrit, vice president, NIRAS (pictured), explained that rising demand for a wider variety of beer products, as well as booming sales of low- and no-alcohol drinks, was making sustainability a bigger challenge for brewers.

He said: “Sustainability is clearly a key consideration for businesses across all sectors and for resource-intensive manufacturers like breweries, it’s no longer a ‘nice to have’, but is fast becoming a ‘licence to operate’.

“Despite these challenges, there’s a once in a generation opportunity for large-scale brewers to set the standard for the industry. This will enable them to meet regulatory requirements and voluntary sustainability goals, while building loyalty in a competitive market.

“There has been a huge shift in production processes and technologies to make it possible to drive down energy and water consumption, reduce waste and maximise efficiency. Embracing this progress will be key for the industry to continue to innovate on product development and growth, while meeting consumer expectations around variety and sustainability.”

Generating a return on investment

The report explores how the industry can approach key sustainability challenges like maximising energy efficiency and minimising water consumption, as well as how brewers can approach CapEx and OpEx projects to improve existing facilities or build new plants to meet sustainability goals.

Stronger consumer appetite for variety over volume has undoubtedly created commercial opportunities for breweries, but producing up to 100 different varieties of beer in a largescale plant means that short production runs will require more energy and water.

Jonas explained that the move towards sustainability is impacting large and small brewers differently. He said: “Some small breweries may have incorporated sustainability into their identity but now face the prospect of remaining sustainable as they scale up. Others may face limited

Adventoris, creators of SwiftCloud, supports major players in the drinks world with its B2B trade apps, including Wilds of Oldham, The Wigan Beer Company, Dayla Drinks, Hills Prospect and A.G. Barr Soft Drinks.

foolproof sales solution. SwiftCloud can save customers over 50% in ordering time and see basket sales increase by 15%.

resources and restricted facilities, meaning they are particularly vulnerable to changes in regulations and consumer expectations because it’s too costly to catch up.

“The large brewing groups have better access to loans and investment to drive the sustainability agenda. They do, however, face the challenge of balancing the needs of different stakeholders across sites and territories.

“There’s no doubt there are a number of obstacles for breweries looking to become more sustainable, but it’s clear that the industry has a huge opportunity to engage the next generation of customers and make sure the industry is sustainable in every sense of the word.”

To download the full report, ‘Building sustainability into brewing’ visit www.niras.com/sectors/foodand-beverage/brewing-report-2023/

Mobile sales app solution sees influx of sales

Adventoris was founded in 2012 to provide a customisable mobile sales app solution for distributors and wholesalers. It provides a platform that allows its customers to view products, communicate and place orders 24/7. The app eliminates the need for sales visits, reduces human errors and enables staff to focus on value-added tasks, making it a

Since 2012, Adventoris has experienced remarkable growth, expanding from a team of two to 42, and achieving an annual growth rate of 100% since 2016. With its innovative software and commitment to revolutionising sales and customer engagement, Adventoris is only set to strengthen its leadership position in the B2B app market, specialising in supporting the food and drink sector.

Commented a spokesperson for Wigan Beer: “We have seen an

increase of items purchased by customers that aren’t included in their bespoke pricing which shows that, after being able to see our full range on our app, they have ordered more.

“Our promotional offers have also seen a big uptake since using the software and our sales on the promotional rewards have remained high even after the promotion has finished. A large influx of sales have come through the app, in-app purchases are up 18% on products that weren’t previously ordered by customers.”

For further information: www.adventoris.com

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NEWS Containers

Croxsons crowned Company of the Year at Surrey Business Awards 2023

Leading glass packaging specialist, Croxsons, is celebrating success in the recent Surrey Business Awards 2023, by winning the top accolade of Company of the Year. The announcement was made at a gala reception for all finalists on 17 October at the entertainment, conference and hospitality venue, G Live, in Guildford. The awards shine a spotlight on the county's best in business, celebrating the achievements of businesses across various sectors in Surrey - a nomination for the company of the year award being a testament to a company’s business excellence. The competition was stiff, with four other companies reaching the finalist

stage. Sponsored by national accountancy firm, Haines Watts, the significance of this award was all apparent.

On presenting the award, Daniel Morgan, managing partner at Haines Watts, commended Croxsons by stating: "This category is always the toughest to judge. Croxsons stood out from the crowd in key areas such as ambition, profitability, growth, sound business planning, customer satisfaction and valuing people. They certainly had the wow factor.”

On receiving the award, Tim Croxson, CEO of Croxsons, said: “This accolade is a monumental recognition of our hard work. Overseeing a legacy that spans five generations, I know it's

the collective efforts of our team that drive our success. I'm honoured to lead such a remarkable group. This award speaks volumes of their commitment.”

Having recently transitioned to a state-of-the-art facility in Sutton, Surrey, Croxsons commemorated their 150th year in business in 2022.

For further information: www.croxsons.com

‘Can’ the negativity, a thought-through DRS could revolutionise recycling, says Alupro

According to insight leaked in the Autumn, feverish meetings between government and industry bodies concluded that the already delayed start date for the roll-out of the UK’s deposit return scheme was looking even more like a ‘non-starter’, with 2026 now proposed as the earliest likely alternative.

However, while frustrations continue to build across the supply chain and calls for a fundamental rethink of proposals gain increasing momentum, are we unwittingly designing a system that will not, when it’s eventually implemented, be effective? Tom Giddings, executive director of Alupro, believes so.

“Developed with the ambition of further driving recycling rates, as well as reducing litter and plastic pollution, the implementation of a well-designed scheme provides a once in a generation opportunity to revolutionise the circular economy of drinks containers,” comments Tom. “This is not a throw away initiative for the short-term, it’s a major shake-up of

policy, industry and recycling behaviour that will affect every part of the packaging supply chain, environmental groups and – most importantly – consumers.

“We should be welcoming new and innovative solutions that have the potential to increase recycling rates and embrace the circular packaging economy of tomorrow. After all, the considered roll-out of a well-designed deposit return scheme has a real opportunity to drive fundamental change.

“While I’m not suggesting for one minute that the long and drawn-out process we’ve seen has been good, littered as it has been with delays and change, we shouldn’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Indeed, regardless of when the scheme is finally introduced, we should see it as a real positive and work hard to maximise its long-term impact.

“Some remain adamant on criticism and negativity but, throughout this continued period of discussion and collaboration regarding how best to roll-out the system, Alupro is committed to engaging with each of

the governments across the UK – as well as the emergent scheme administrators – to ensure that the system embraces all the elements needed for it to be a success.

“Despite further delays, it’s really positive to see decisions being made that will deliver the best results. Continued support for a scheme including metal cans, plastic and glass bottles from both the Scottish and Welsh governments, for example, will ensure systems are implemented that consumers can really buy into.

“Rather than continuing this unnecessary war of words, let’s remember that the ultimate goal here is to increase recycling rates. Amid widespread environmental pressure, collaboration is key to navigating new policy and delivering the most tangible environmental benefits – not just for today, but for the future.”

For further information: www.alupro.org

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NEWS Bar & Cellar

It’s all about ‘setting the beat’ Says Emma Stewart of TecFlo

I have a friend who is a resident conductor here in the Northwest.

Over a cheeky half pint of cider, they recently corrected me when I said that their role was to ‘keep the beat’. Instead, I was educated that amongst many other things they ‘set the beat’ rather than keep it. A skill requiring them to lead the music, ahead of the musicians, rather than being in time with them. It got me thinking about how this is

transferable into business and more specifically TecFlo.

I suggest a well-deserved applause is due of any business ‘keeping up with the flow’ of the economy. The use of the word ‘unprecedented’ across the last three years seems to prove this.

When I think specifically about TecFlo – our productivity is not an accident, instead it is the result of intelligent and carefully considered planning. TecFlo’s commitment to holding stock has resulted in us being required to master the ‘sum of our parts’ ahead of the movement of them.

Between September 2022 and September 2023 • TecFlo purchased close to 4 mill individual items (a ball in a fob = 1) • Sent just short of 500,000 products

• the average delivery of goods to us was 6 weeks. • the average delivery of goods to our customers was 3 working days.

Somewhere in the mix of the score TecFlo certainly recognises, responds to and re-sets the flow of assets back into the supply chain we support. TecFlo’s movement from a position of ‘keeping up with’ to ‘setting the’ beat has been mastered in a similar way to the musicians. It is the result of having incredible people sitting in the right seats ( far smarter than I am ) and decades of rehearsing.

Pictured above: Emma Stewart of TecFlo Pictured left – TecFlo’s Flow Control Tap

For further information: https://tec-flo.co.uk/

Brewitt launches new and improved CoolTube ‘Pancake’ heat exchanger range Following on from the success of the original CoolTube heat exchanger range, Brewfitt has announced the launch of the CoolTube Pancake range.

solution for drinks dispense cooling. As part of the ‘Future of Dispense’ system it is primarily cellar based, however it can fit into the most confined spaces, including directly under the font, saving valuable space behind the bar.

Smaller and even more efficient, the patented cooling technology is ‘revolutionising both primary and secondary cooling’, says the company.

Available in single, 2-way and 4-way configurations, the device runs off the python recirculation lines and is coolant dependent, utilising all cooling mediums. It’s over 12 times smaller and lighter than standard heat

The CoolTube Pancake is designed to reduce electricity usage and bills, with no heat output or noise. It also requires less maintenance and produces less waste when line cleaning.

exchangers and requires no fixing into position.

With superior delta T and consistent dispense temperature, the CoolTube Pancake is a versatile and efficient

To find out more, download the product brochure from the Brewfitt website.

For further information: www.brewfitt.com

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NEWS Ingredients

Simpsons Malt Limited reports increase in profits

Simpsons Malt Limited has reported an increase in profits from 2021 to 2022 after publishing its latest set of financial accounts. The fifth-generation, family-owned business and Certified B Corporation, which includes agricultural merchanting division McCreath Simpson & Prentice, recorded a profit before tax of £9.5million (2021: £7.1million) from a turnover of £273.8million (2021: £214.2million).

During the financial year (January 1 – December 31), the company built on the benefits of having acquired the grain merchanting business of W.N. Lindsay Ltd in 2021 and the additional storage infrastructure it provided, collecting record volumes of malting barley direct from its increased number of growers. The merchanting division, overall, experienced an excellent year with strong demand for all crop inputs and feedstuffs. On the malting side, distilling malt volumes made up a substantial part of the overall traded volume and demand from this sector remained resilient, with yearon-year growth expected to continue into 2023.

The demand for brewing malt, meanwhile, was steady, albeit slowing slightly as breweries faced increased operating costs. That, combined with higher malting barley values – a result of the conflict in Ukraine – and increased interest costs, meant that profit margins declined in the final quarter of the year. In 2022, there was an investment of more than £4.3million on tangible fixed assets, including a new grain dryer at its Craigswalls Grain Store, improvement in power and kilning capacity at its Tweed Valley Maltings headquarters in

Berwick-upon-Tweed, increased storage capacity at its Tivetshall Maltings in Norfolk and a minority investment in Yaregrain PLC to improve its service and barley storage offering to malting barley growers in Norfolk.

The company also assisted its workers during the cost-of-living crisis, with a £1,000 payment made to all full-time colleagues in August 2022, while more than £78,000 was donated to various good causes local to the company’s eight sites during the year.

Speaking about the financial results for 2022, Simpsons Malt Ltd Managing Director, Tim McCreath, said: “In a year of global uncertainty, we’re delighted to be able to report a strong set of financial results, which can be attributed to prudent decision making, careful cost management and a focus on value added trading activities. “With the conflict in Ukraine ongoing and through witnessing the impact this has had on both grain and energy values, as a business we remain mindful of how geopolitical events – and other risks and uncertainties – can impact us on a day-today basis. “However, with demand from the distilling sector continuing to grow and the benefits of our vertically integrated supply chain from crop input supply through to malt delivery, prospects for both the malting and agricultural merchanting divisions of the business remain positive.”

Improve the mouthfeel of your beers with ISY Enhance™

AB Vickers ISY Enhance™ is an inactivated specific yeast autolysate designed to increase body, mouthfeel, and drinkability in beer. The resulting product is smooth and clean with enhanced flavour perception.

For further information: www.simpsonsmalt.co.uk

HopWalk success under the blazing sun

With the mercury soaring to an impressive 29°C, this year’s Charles Faram HopWalk event proved a resounding success.

Over the span of two days, attendees were treated to a range of informative sessions, engaging discussions, and delightful experiences, making it an unforgettable event for all.

The first day of the event witnessed a series of enlightening seminars conducted by our esteemed partner suppliers, whilst the second day was equally captivating, offering attendees a diverse range of activities and

experiences. Trade stands showcasing the latest brewing products and services were set up, and describing beer flavour talks, conducted again by Mark Dredge, were a major highlight of the day.

Attendees were given the opportunity to walk around Stocks Farm, and an international crop report was presented by growers from around the world, shedding light on the global hop production scenario.

For further information: https://charlesfaram.com

Applications include, but are not limited to: • Reducing harsh hop flavours and balancing flavors in hoppy styles • Increasing body and complexity in low alcohol, non-alcoholic beer styles, and other light beer styles • Increasing mouthfeel and drinkability in any beer style

For further information: www.lallemand.com

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NEWS Branding, Labelling & Packaging

A brand-new labelling possibility with Rawlings

Rawlings has recently invested in a state-of-the-art labelling machine - provided by sister company Vigo, ltd - allowing for a much more cost-effective way for customers to brand packaging. As long as it’s cylindrical and not tapered it can be labelled, opening a huge amount of potential for your brand to expand.

Says a spokesperson for the company: “This is an extremely exciting new frontier for Rawlings and our clients so we thought it would be best to create this blog to tell you exactly how and what you can do.”

So, what can you label? “Well, there are a ton of possibilities now, including beer & Cider bottles. To put it simply, if the container is cylindrical, we will be able to label it. Anything from our stock/ catalogue is more than acceptable, but if you have your own product there is a possibility, we can still label it. As long as we have a sufficient technical drawing of

your product, we can label it. The dimensions must be at least 50mm in diameter, so double-check that the bottle you wish to fill is within this specification. We are currently looking into a machine that can label smaller diameters, 28mm and above, so keep an eye out on our socials and your email for when we post about that.

“Another caveat that I would like to mention is that all labelling must be done pre-filling. All your filling of your incredible product must be done after the fact. With a variety of labelling options and types, from paper to plastic.”

What kind of labels can you get? “With a variety of labelling options for all kinds of packaging, you might be wondering what labels you can actually get. Well, we have an extensive list of labels from different materials and specifications for your labelling requirements.

“We are able to provide you with a variety of label options. These options include; labels on the front and back or a complete wrap-around option. Additionally, we can also provide a label around the neck of the bottle. “Additionally, we have a selection of materials to choose from. These include paper, plastic, etc. Feel free to contact our well-equipped staff to enquire about what materials are right for your packaging. The paper option provides an exceptional feel and

Refold gives North a new look

Yorkshire-based design agency Refold has created a new look for North as the brewer celebrates 26 years in the business.

Refold has worked with North since the company opened its first bar in 1997 and has produced all of its logos and can designs. Renowned for iconic can designs and commitment to quality, North is now set to embark on the next

chapter of its journey under a refreshed logo which better reflects the name ‘North’ as the company has always been referred.

The new logo and can designs are fluid whilst also solidifying the brand identity, ensuring customers recognise North, whether behind the bar, on a supermarket shelf or even in a bottle shop in Japan.

There have been many variations of their name over the past 26 years, but they have always been known in the

eco-friendly outlook whilst the plastic option is much more durable and is able to stand up to all kinds of weather.”

Why label your products with Rawlings? “By choosing to label your product with Rawlings you will receive an extensive number of benefits. These include: • Maximise cost savings by Rawlings' comprehensive packaging solutions, glass container supply and labelling. • Enhance brand appeal and captivate your customers with professionally labelled packaging. • Save valuable time with our streamlined and efficient labelling service. • Enjoy premium-quality labels that showcase your brand's excellence.

“By choosing to go with Rawlings for your labelling endeavours you can be certain that your product’s future is in good hands. Opting to go with our spectacular company instead of a wider variety of companies. Will leave you feeling certain that your time can be better spent expanding your business.”

For further information: www.rawlingsbristol.co.uk

industry as just North, which has been a driving force behind the brand shakeup. In an effort to make their beers more accessible, North’s new can labels also feature descriptions of the beers, educating and guiding customers on the journey through North’s diverse offerings.

For further information: www.facebook.com/refold.design

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NEWS Branding, Labelling & Packaging

Food and beverage label manufacturer celebrates Label Industry Global Awards 2023 success

Staffordshire-based Mercian Labels has been recognised as one of the World’s leading selfadhesive label manufacturers after clinching top honours at the Label Industry Global Awards 2023 held in Brussels last month.

The 57-strong business triumphed in the inaugural Global Team Achievement Award, which celebrates a new service or working method emphasising innovation, sustainability and team interaction.

Working with its supply chain partners, Mercian Labels conceived the idea of a fully-automated ‘lights out’ finishing capability back in 2016 and has since created a core team of industry leading software and hardware innovators to produce its truly revolutionary, award-winning, label production capabilities.

finishing line to complete most of its set-up and job changeover on the fly, using coded instructions printed on the reel in between jobs, and without operator intervention; saving time, reducing waste and freeing up the experienced operator’s time to undertake other tasks. All of which is backed up with full-speed automated inspection against a pre-start image, providing 100% accuracy and 100% fulfilment.

To really put the whole workflow and new technology to the test, the Mercian Labels team ran the same project on two separate occasions, with the new capability seeing production times for 102 types of label being converted into 117,600 labels on 112 rolls, being slashed from just under six hours, to one hour, 46 minutes, saving as much as 74% throughout the whole process.

Mercian’s new automated workflow uses a customised ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system linked to almost every area of the business, enabling the bespoke manufactured

Dr. Adrian Steele, Mercian Labels’ Managing Director, concluded: “This has been a six-year journey, but the results are outstanding for us as a business, for our customers, for the

Specialist label printer KCS Print has announced today its certification as a B Corporation, joining a growing group of companies reinventing business by pursuing purpose as well as profit.

sustainability in supply chains through Extended Producer Responsibility and waste management, make KCS Print’s B Corp certification a notable step and signals a shift towards greater accountability and transparency in the labelling sector.

KCS Print is ‘Britain’s first B Corp certified label printer’

KCS Print has been certified by B Lab as having met rigorous social and environmental standards which represent its commitment to goals outside of shareholder profit.

KCS Print is now part of a community of 7,000 businesses globally who have certified as B Corps. The B Corp community in the UK, representing a broad cross section of industries and sizes, comprises over 1,400 companies and include well-known brands.

Recent attention on increasing

KCS Print has always been very focused on limiting its environmental impact as Managing Director Zoe Deadman notes, “Sustainability is at the core of what we do as a company and this huge achievement will push us to do more internally to practice what we preach whilst also advocating for the print industry to deliver higher environmental standards for our customers”.

KCS Print manufactures a range of specialist products including Integrated Labels for eCommerce

environment and potentially will revolutionise the whole industry. The automated workflow has significantly improved productivity, reduced waste and frees up our team to focus on improvements in other areas. Indeed. Now the new systems and technologies are happily running on a daily basis, our team are already looking at our next innovation to further protect the environment, improve customer satisfaction and maximise the benefits to our community and the economy.”

Judged by some of the industry’s most experienced and knowledgeable thought leaders, The Label Industry Global Awards are held every year and are recognised as the label and packaging printing industry’s highest accolades. They celebrate excellence and innovation and showcase the achievements of organisations that push the boundaries of what is possible.

For further information: www.mercianlabels.com

despatch and returns labels and digitally printed food and drink labels through its roll label division Root Sustainable Labels

Chris Turner, Executive Director of B Lab UK, says, “We are delighted to welcome KCS Print to the B Corp community. This is a movement of companies who are committed to changing how business operates and believe business really can be a force for good. We know that KCS Print are going to be a fantastic addition to the community and will continue driving the conversation forward”.

For further information: www.kcsprint.co.uk

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NEWS Awards

Registration opens for the 2024 International Brewing & Cider Awards

Entries are now open for the 2024 International Brewing & Cider Awards. Brewers and cidermakers from all around the globe are encouraged to submit their finest beers and ciders into the world’s most historic international competition of its kind. The International Brewing & Cider Awards is an unparalleled competition for brewers and cidermakers to have their products evaluated by a panel of practicing brewers and cidermakers. Winners gain recognition on an international stage, showcasing their product as an outstanding example of its style.

Founded in 1886, the event has become a global celebration of excellence within the brewing and cider industries, attracting entries from all corners of the world – the 2021 Awards included entrants from Australia, China, Japan, Luxembourg, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, USA and the UK. Brewers and cidermakers can submit their product into nine beer categories with 36 classes and three cider categories with 15 classes. The classes are differentiated by alcoholic strength to ensure every beer and cider has a place in one of the broad

categories, including innovative variations on style including: Sour Beer, Special Hop, and Spanish Style Cider.

For the first time in 137 years, the Awards, which will be held in March 2024 at Depot Mayfield, Manchester in the UK, will be accompanied by a public festival - International Brewing & Cider Festival - and will showcase one of the UK’s most extensive collections of international beers and ciders.

All brewers and cidermakers who enter the prestigious awards will be provided an opportunity to exhibit at the International Brewing & Cider Festival and promote their brand and tell their stories to thousands of beer and cider enthusiasts.

“Throughout our history, we have encouraged innovation and diversity within the industry, and our wide range of categories and classes are testament to our ethos of ensuring the best beers and ciders receive the recognition they truly deserve, whether they be large volume or special niche products of excellence.

“The 2024 Awards promise to be even more exciting than ever before with the introduction of a public festival, and we’re encouraging all brewers and cidermakers worldwide to enter their products as soon as they can, so they do not miss out on the chance to have their beer and cider recognised as the best in the world.”

Ruth Evans MBE, Director of the International Brewing & Cider Awards, said: “The International Brewing & Cider Awards first took place in 1886 and throughout this time the integrity, professionalism and judging standards of the Awards has been unswerving, and we continue to champion the very best of the international brewing and cidermaking world.

Entries for the International Brewing & Cider Awards close on 1 February 2024. The judging process will take place on 19 – 21 March 2024 with the medal winners being announced on 22 March 2024, followed by the two-day International Brewing & Cider Festival.

who has had a profound impact on the beer industry over the last year, with a positive contribution which reaches beyond their own business to the benefit of the beer industry as a whole,” says Neil Walker, SIBA Business Awards Chair of Judges.

imagination of their target audience.

For further information: www.brewingawards.org

SIBA Business Awards 2024 open for entries

The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has launched the SIBA Business Awards 2024, including three brand new categories for Best Collaboration, Best New Brewery, and a new SIBA member-voted Brewers’ Brewer of the Year award.

The “Brewers’ Brewer of the Year” seeks to highlight the brewer who has had the biggest positive influence on our industry in the last twelve months, either through producing truly outstanding beers, delivering change for the industry, or giving back to the brewing community. “The Brewers’ Brewer of the Year Award is a chance to celebrate an individual

Also being added for 2024 is a new "Best Collaboration" award that seeks to highlight collaborations which amplify the reach of the businesses involved, appeal to new audiences, or create a commercial success to the mutual benefit of all involved. This could be a beer collaboration, product line, new business venture, festival or event partnership, and judges will be looking for innovative, exciting collaborations that capture the

Another new category for 2024 is the "UK’s Best New Independent Craft Brewery". This award aims to highlight the year’s most exciting and successful new brewery; whose impact on the industry, critical acclaim, or popularity with beer drinkers belies their short time in operation. The SIBA Business Awards 2024 are judged by a panel of industry experts and presented at the UK’s biggest beer and brewing event – BeerX UK in Liverpool, March 2024.

For further information: www.siba.co.uk/businessawards

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DRINKS INDUSTRY SUPPLIERS

Want to promote your business to the UK marketplace?

Then here’s what this magazine is all about!

We’re a quarterly ‘Product & Services’ platform for the UK drinks production industry So if your business has something to sell to UK brewers , distillers, and cider makers, plus other drinks producers, you can publicise it within our pages. Ask yourself, is there another UK drinks trade magazine that ticks all these boxes?

3Free subscription for a printed copy open to ALL UK brewers o 3Free subscription for a printed copy open to ALL UK distillers o 3Free subscription for a printed copy open to ALL UK cider makers o 3Circulation figures which are actually ABC audited & certified (not assumed or simply mailed to members) o 3Free editorial (no advertorials please!) o 3Right-hand-page, low-cost advertising, with additional discounts and benefits. o 3Online page-flip version with editorial live links to advertisers’ websites o 3Social media coverage of advertisers’ editorial at no additional cost o

To be included in the next issue please email chris@brewingbusiness.co.uk

The NEXT issue of

Showcase

Feature in this issue...

In The Mix

SPRING 2024 will be published on

29th February 2024

EDITORIAL DEADLINE : Friday 2nd February 2024

ADVERT ARTWORK: Thursday 8th February 2024

l Malts, hops, fruit, yeast and any other raw materials which contribute to the finished product. l Chemicals and other adjuncts used in the drinks production process. l Companies providing power and other resources, plus products and services to help meet hygiene regulations.

PLUS our PREVIEW feature of ‘Who’s Showing What’ at

BeerX 2024

l If you’re exhibiting at the event, here’s your chance to let potential visitors know what they can expect to see and discuss on your stand.

For more detailed information on all these features, visit brewingbusiness.co.uk/features-list/

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News from the Brewing, Food & Beverage Industry Suppliers Association

VOL 5 ISSUE 4 Winter 2023/4

Andrew Jeans

BFBi National Chair It appears that just as businesses work to recover from one challenge, another emerges, necessitating our preparedness. Frequently, we lack direct control over these local or global events, yet we keenly feel their repercussions on our doorstep. Our hearts and sympathies go out to all the innocent victims of the ongoing crises in Ukraine and the Middle East, and I'm certain you'll join me in hoping for a swift return to peace. Nevertheless, there are many reasons for us to be grateful. While we grapple with rising costs of raw materials, food, energy bills, and wages, along with supply chain issues and policy uncertainties, we find ourselves in a time of significant opportunity. We should make the most of the aspects we can control. There are numerous efficiencies to be gained in our daily processes and equipment usage. Countless improvements can be made to our work methods, our teams, and how we allocate our time and resources. As a business owner myself, I understand the importance of going back to basics and evaluating what can be enhanced. It's about investing in the right areas and people while identifying savings without compromising our staff, customers, or reputation. Surely, by doing so, we position ourselves more favourably for when the world stabilises, and economies regain their footing. Or is this just my optimism toying with reality? We're eager to learn about the strategies your businesses are employing to adapt to these challenging times. Share your successes and ideas with other BFBi members so that we can draw inspiration from them. Feel free to get in touch through BFBi or reach out to me directly at Andrew.jeans@industrialtradingsolutions.com. We are unquestionably stronger together, so let's work in that spirit!

Andrew Jeans Industrial Trading Solutions Managing Director and BFBi National Chairman

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MEMBERS’ NEWS I

GEA supplies HEINEKEN UK with heat pump solution GEA has supplied its long-term customer HEINEKEN UK with a low carbon heat network for its Manchester brewery. This is in support of HEINEKEN’s global ambition to reach net zero across its production sites (scopes 1 and 2) by 2030. The Manchester brewery produces about 400 million litres of Heineken®, Birra Moretti and Foster’s beer per year. For HEINEKEN UK, Manchester brewery’s decarbonisation journey starts with the installation of heat pumps and a heat pump network capturing and reusing heat to brew and package beer. GEA will design, supply and install the low carbon heat network to the existing plant and will also modify the legacy process equipment. Currently, steam is produced in large steam boilers powered by natural gas. With the new system, HEINEKEN UK will use a low temperature (90 degrees Celsius) hot water network – driven by GEA heat pumps - thus replacing the steam boilers with environmentally-friendly heat pumps powered by electricity. GEA’s heat pump solution operates on an environmentally-friendly ammonia refrigerant with zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and zero global warming potential (GWP). Distribution and recovery pipe work make up the foundation of the network, which will

absorb the heat from multiple processes. Once completed, expected to be by the end of 2024, HEINEKEN UK estimates that the installation will result in a 45% decrease in gas use, leading to a reduction of carbon emissions. GEA’s high level of expertise in brewing and ability to offer a complete sustainable energy solution in-house convinced HEINEKEN UK. “We want to brew a better world and we need to act now if we are going to meet our 2030 net zero ambitions,” says Chelsey Wroe, Head of Sustainability at HEINEKEN UK. “Heat pumps are a key technology on our journey to decarbonising our breweries and enable us to create a circular process with the excess heat that is created during the brewing process. As GEA brings a wealth of expertise and knowledge to the project as well as some well- engineered technical solutions, we appointed GEA – after a thorough tender process - to support us in decarbonising our Manchester site.” In this project, GEA combined its heat pump technology with its substantial experience in the brewing process industry. “Our ability to deliver a design, which recognised the complex and diverse energy demands of a large scale 24/7 brewing operation made the

difference,” John Burden, Director Project Sales at GEA’s Heating & Refrigeration Technologies Division, explains. Matthew Hadwen, Sales Manager Brewery at GEA’s Liquid & Powder Technologies Division, who led the project, adds: “Being able to do it all in-house makes us a more reliable partner to HEINEKEN, who are truly serious about their sustainability goals. Hopefully this approach will encourage other companies to follow their example.”

The high-pressure ammonia reciprocating compressor, GEA Grasso V XHP, is a central part of the GEA heat pump system at the HEINEKEN UK brewery. gea.com

New range of i-Kegs, i-Casks and i-Spear! with groundbreaking IOT technology unveiled at Brau 2023 After years of designing and testing, i-Keg unveiled its patent-pending line of polymer kegs, casks and IOT spear at this year’s BrauBeviale trade show in Germany. Each keg and cask in our range is not only individually numbered for absolute traceability, but also comes equipped with optional state-of-the-art global tracking which can be supplied in the keg, cask or with the spear. The i-Keg patented design combined with the company’s unique manufacturing approach, ensures that the kegs and casks, outlast the industry’s standard life expectancy, provide unparalleled data analytics whilst delivering consistent performance, even in challenging operating conditions. i-Keg is focussed on delivering widespread benefits for the environment. As a sustainable product, the plastics used in the kegs and casks

can be recovered by mechanical recycling and is 100% recyclable. The outer shells of our kegs are manufactured to be fully recyclable, meaning old shells can be recycled to form new shells or as recycled material within another manufacturing process. 2023 BrauBeviale also saw the unveiling of the ground-breaking i-Spear. The patent pending i-Spear, software and cloud platform has been built from the ground up by i-Keg to deliver the industry’s first data analytics in near real-time. Secure, unobtrusive, no welding or screw fixings, the i-Spear has been designed to replace your current steel fleet existing spears. That’s right! Leverage your existing fleet of kegs to deliver the consumption data you need and combat lost, misused or stolen kegs. Daily or hourly, the i-Spear captures and reports critical data of ACTUAL beer consumption down to the millilitre,

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location, temperature and journey without any human intervention such as barcodes, RFID systems etc. with their inherent problems. AWS-hosted secure cloud infrastructure ensures global accessibility and security with full suite of data analytics at your fingertips! This will improve distribution, vastly reduce grey trading, open up marketing opportunities and can help streamline purchasing throughout your entire organisation. In today’s modern world, beverage manufacturers are dedicated to ensuring their beverage arrives in the consumers glass in premium condition. Our i-Keg and i-Spear will allow beverage manufacturers to monitor the full journey and improve services to meet the consumers high expectations. sales@i-keg.com

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MEMBERS’ NEWS I

Practical solutions to reduce environmental impact Having celebrated our 25th Anniversary in 2022, Addison Project is a multi-discipline engineering project management/design organisation with offices located in Cheshire, Lancashire and Middlesbrough. We grew out of the ICI operations at Hillhouse and Runcorn and offer an in-house design capability of around 150 people, together with a full range of CDM services and associated procurement capability. Our contracts range from hundreds of pounds for some minor drawing updates, to providing engineering resources on client premises, through to plant modifications and de-bottlenecking projects, all the way up to managing and executing turn-key projects in excess of £100M. What truly sets us apart from our competitors though is our people and how we work very closely with our customers to add value, not cost, to their projects. We put our customers’ business success as our number one priority, often working as an extension of your own in-house resources and becoming a true engineering partner sharing your goals and beliefs. Alongside our customers’ needs, safety is our number one priority and through our design teams we engineer out unplanned events, where the greatest

risks are found. We are ISO9001 and Achilles UVDB accredited, and it is no coincidence that we have received the prestigious ROSPA Presidents Award for our excellent safety record for 24 consecutive years. Our staff cover all of the Process, Mechanical & Piping, Electrical, Instrumentation, Civil and Structural disciplines, supported by a strong Project Management team. In addition, we can offer support functions such as Procurement from our other locations. Technical HSE and related CDM site support is brought in as and when required and it is our preference that this is based on site during the project delivery phase. Allied to this is our capacity to provide specialist services such as 3D laser scanning/modelling, HV engineering up to and including 33kV, pipe stressing, DSEAR, ATEX and pressure relief sizing. A lot of our business involves the day-to-day running of process plants, we are particularly strong in ‘cut and carve’ projects, site modifications and improvements. We provide engineering support on a regular basis to over forty clients. We have successfully worked in partnership with organisations across the whole industrial sector, some for over two decades. These include

numerous blue chip and multinational businesses with exacting standards. We fully believe that this places us in an ideal position to support client requirements over the coming years. We believe it is vital to embed sustainability into our daily business, ensuring that we have minimal impact, address wider global climate change concerns and contribute to international goals. We are committed to protecting the environment and preventing pollution and complying with environmental legislation and regulation. Additionally, we also want to help our customers, supply chain and any other collaborative parties to reduce their impact. We have many examples where we have designed practical solutions to reduce those environmental impacts, including energy consumption, pollution and waste, and protection of our local communities, biodiversity and ecosystems. www.addisonproject.co.uk

New machine debuts at BrauBeviale for Enterprise Tondelli Visitors to BrauBeviale in Nuremberg in November were able to view the new Rouge machine from Baumer, billed as ‘the complete plastic-free solution’. Designed to reduce the use of raw material and lowering pollution, the Rouge machine can use corrugated board, micro flue and kraft board for packaging of all bottle and can sizes. It offers reduction of board material with integrated handle and great product protection, and can also produce trays and wraparound cartons for full flexibility Baumer also manufactures shrink wrappers up to 200 cycles per minute and wraparound cartoners for 75 per minute as well as combined cartoner/shrink wrappers etc. Also featured on the stand were audio-visual displays of recent Enterprise Tondelli canning and bottling projects

including: • Four sizes of canning line: 3,000cph, 6,000cph, 12,000 cph and 25,000 cph canning lines • Four sizes of bottling line: 1,500 bph, 6,000 bph, 9,000 bph and 24,000 bph Complete with conveyors, pasteurisers, labellers, depalletisers, packaging. Situated nearby was equipment from other Enterprise Tondelli partners including: • Rinser/beer filler/crowner with mechanical filling valves for the craft sector. • Compact plug-and-play 24-valve rotary can filler for beer rated at 12,000 cans per hour and complete with flow meter volumetric filling for very accurate fill with reduced product losses. Features include static can and electro pneumatic valve controls to allow very flexible setting of parameters for different beer styles. The range includes can filler up to 80,000 cans per hour.

• Cost-effective craft beer can filler/seamer rated at 1,500 cans per hour. Rotary machine with mechanical filling valves on a rotary carousel – 3,000 cans per hour also available. Line can be complete with horizontal can rinser, tall stack can depalletiser and labeller Please ask for a quote. www.enterprisetondelli.co.uk

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MEMBERS’ NEWS I

Konvoy raises capital and launches multiple IoT tracked keg fleets in Europe Konvoy, the world-leading keg tracking and keg pooling solution, is commissioning the world's first fully Internet of Things (IoT) tracked keg fleet on the back of the Group's latest $13m capital raise.

agreements being negotiated in Europe and elsewhere including Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom, France, USA, New Zealand, Finland, Sweden, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Spain and Iceland.

Konvoy has signed its first wave of European customers to implement its keg tracking platform, Konvoy Cloud, via its IoT keg tracking device, called Katch. This represents an important step in increasing customer awareness of the significant benefits of the technology across the United Kingdom, Europe, and the USA. These agreements follows Konvoy Group successfully raising a further $13m of funds to fuel global expansion across its kegs, data and care platform.

“There is increasing interest from both small and large European brewers who want to utilise our technology to reduce capital expenditure, unlock under deployed kegs, understand on premise data and reduce labour costs through eliminating manually intensive barcode scanning and outdated tracking measures,” he continued.

Managing Director of Konvoy, Adam Trippe-Smith, said the agreements, capital raising, and European expansion were all significant milestones for the company. “This customer acceleration demonstrates the benefits of the Katch cellular tracking device, which coupled with our cloud platform reduces keg and cask losses, improves asset turns and creates real time visibility of the key conditions affecting beer quality through the supply chain.” Mr Trippe-Smith said these were the first of a number of Katch tracking

“European interest in Konvoy’s supply chain loT technology is particularly strong as its cloud platform can also help beverage producers measure their Scope 3 footprint; being carbon emissions created by suppliers and customers up and down the supply chain.” Konvoy's own 130,000 keg tracking devices have reported important supply chain location, temperature, and motion data over 150 million times from 20 countries. Konvoy remains the pay-per-fill keg pooling market leader in Australia and New Zealand with its ambitions to operate globally well underway. Konvoy also continues to make meaningful

Optimise your winter cooling with DTX coolant As the Winter season approaches, taking steps to ensure your cooling systems are winter-ready is paramount. Coolflow DTX, a highefficiency, non-toxic antifreeze/ coolant, is a key component of this preparation process. What is DTX? DTX is a specialised antifreeze/coolant designed to deliver superior performance and advantages over alternatives like Propylene Glycol. Why Choose DTX? Here's why to choose DTX: 1. Enhanced Heat Transfer: DTX improves heat transfer efficiency within your cooling systems, ensuring they operate at peak performance. 2. Effortless Pumping: Thanks to the viscosity achieved, DTX is exceptionally easy to pump, especially in low-temperature environments,

ensuring your cooling systems remain efficient all year round. 3. Energy Savings: With its superior performance, Coolflow DTX can reduce energy bills, delivering longterm cost savings. As Winter approaches, consider the importance of changing your coolant to protect your cooler from the freezing elements and to ensure your cooling systems function optimally. Prepare for the colder months by making the switch to Coolflow DTX. It's a strategic choice to keep your systems running efficiently throughout the winter season. Get ready for winter with Coolflow DTX. www.brewfitt.com

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market share gains in the Australian market, including significant customer wins, recently adding global brewers Lion and Asahi as keg pooling customers. The company has received a prestigious Good Design Award Winner Accolade in the Product Design category in recognition for outstanding design and innovation for its Katch device. Over 900 innovative projects were evaluated by more than 70 Australian and international jurors, including designers, engineers, architects and thought leaders. In addition, the Katch device won the Connected Packaging Award at The PackHub’s inaugural Packaging Startup Awards during London Packaging Week. www.konvoykegs.com

More in-depth reading New CoolTube ‘Pancake’ heat exchanger range Following on from the original CoolTube heat exchanger range, Brewfitt has announced the launch of the CoolTube Pancake Range Scan to download

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MEMBERS’ NEWS I

Campden BRI selected as a finalist for Market Research Society Operations Awards Campden BRI (Chipping Campden Ltd) was selected as a finalist for the Market Research Society (MRS) Operations ‘Oppie’ Awards in recognition of its online qualitative work with Quorn Foods on understanding the consumer appeal and consumption journey of a Quorn Food’s meat analogue to shape its consumer centric development. Quorn wanted to gain a better understanding of consumers’ attitudes towards a meat-free product, driven by strong product experiences. The diverse research techniques used in their qualitative study with Campden BRI provided unique comparative insights throughout the consumption journey from unpacking, preparing, cooking, eating and post-cooking clean-up of meat and meat analogue products. By fully understanding consumers’ engagement, such as inherent expectations, delighters and detractors, the project successfully facilitated understanding of consumer expectations of a meat-free product, the user experience of cooking and eating meat-free products (Quorn and competitor) and meat equivalent, and the associated consumer journey. Robyn Wilton is a Consumer Insights Project Manager at Campden BRI and led the project with Quorn Foods. Robyn said of the project, “An ethnographic approach was conducted to attain rich insights into consumers expectations and experiences of consuming a meat and meat-free product. Data was

collected using a combination of online tools to capture live responses through video reels and explore consumers’ first impressions, sensory experiences and eating occasions through discussion tasks, collage, mini surveys, concept evaluation and live chat groups. This synergistic approach to the research generated rich insights to aid Quorn in their product development journey, which really benefitted from putting consumers at the centre.” Overall, the meat product was identified as the gold standard and came closest to delivering the desired ‘great consumption moment’. Campden BRI’s findings provided Quorn with clear priorities and direction for product development. Angela Kapparis, Consumer & Sensory Science Manager at Quorn Foods, said, “There was a strong collaborative approach from the very start with the Campden BRI team, this provided an opportunity to both fine tune research approach as needed and to dial up/down time with consumers. As a result, Quorn was able to attain rich ‘in the moment’ insights on core design cues for NPD guidance and deeper understanding of consumer expectations to create new hypothesis for future product research.”

Clonakilty Distillery has chosen an IC Filling Systems complete packaging line for its new bottling hall.

The Scully family have farmed this coastal land in the southwest of Ireland for 9 successive generations. Their mission is to create Clonakilty Whiskey utilising the best resources that nature has to offer - prime land, pristine water

The MRS Oppie Awards were held on 28th September 2023 at Drake & Morgan in London. www.campdenbri.co.uk

More in-depth reading The ‘complete solution’ for the hydrogen economy... IGD want to be sure that the world is safe from these hazards when entering this new market. Scan to download

Elise Martin-Sablot, Flavour Development Manager at Quorn Foods, expanded, “This qualitative research has strongly supported our efforts to anchor consumers at the heart of our product development. This research provided golden insights focusing on aroma, flavour and texture which provides the

1,500bph Whiskey bottling line for Clonakilty in Ireland Capable of 1,500 bottles per hour, it comprises a 10-1 filling plus T corker block, a single-head capsuling machine and a three-stations rotary labelling machine with ink jet date coder incorporated and a complete bottle conveyor system. The new line will be used to bottle Clonakilty’s Whiskey, Gin and Vodka offerings.

foundational building blocks into creating the right base product for our consumers. Having a deeper understanding of consumers behaviours and interactions with products from unpacking, cooking, and eating was invaluable to developing a deeper understanding of the standard of excellence that we require to deliver to be a success with consumers.”

Embracing innovation: Tennent’s Brewery partners with SEEPEX Together with SEEPEX, Tennent’s explored the benefits of SEEPEX’s cutting-edge Smart Air Injection (SAI) technology Scan to download

and salt sea air. The perfect ingredients for a maritime distillery. Clonakilty grows its own heritage barley on the family farm in the shadow of the Galley Head lighthouse. Centuries of sea mist, soft rain and ocean spray provide a complexity to the soil that permeates through to each individual grain. www.icfillingsystems.com

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KNOWLEDGE I

HRS welcomes progress on separate food waste collections By Matt Hale, International Sales & Marketing Director, HRS Heat Exchangers Along with others in the anaerobic digestion (AD) and biogas sector, HRS Heat Exchangers welcomes the recent announcement by the Government that weekly collections of food waste will also be introduced for most households across England by 2026. Defra’s ‘Simpler Recycling’ plans also state that the ‘Government’s preference is for food waste to be collected for treatment by anaerobic digestion (AD), which presents the best environmental outcome.’ We recently commented on how a lack of consistency in policies, including around nationwide food waste collections, were preventing the UK from maximising the potential of AD to both generate renewable energy, mitigate emissions from organic wastes, and boost soil health. It is therefore extremely welcome to see the government recognise that, ‘Municipal food waste collections will reduce the amount of food waste going to landfill, where it releases harmful greenhouse gases, helping to achieve our Net Zero strategy target to eliminate biodegradable waste sent to landfill from 2028. Instead, where food waste is collected separately, it can be reprocessed to create organic fertiliser and biogas, which can be used to generate electricity, bolstering our energy security.’ As Charlotte Morton of the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) points out, “Separate food waste collections are the cornerstone for an effective implementation of Defra’s Food and Drink Waste Hierarchy and now Local Authorities and AD operators can plan with confidence to put contracts and

infrastructure in place to ensure inedible food waste goes to AD treatment as the first recycling option. The food waste collected will provide an invaluable new source of feedstock for AD plants to produce renewable gas for heat, electricity and transport fuel, and biofertilisers for soil health and improved crop yields.” However, as a number of industry observers have already noted, the increase in segregated food waste requiring treatment will exceed current treatment capacity unless new AD plants are built quickly. The government also seems to have recognised this, and in another welcome announcement, has confirmed that the Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS) will be extended until 31 March 2028 – ahead of the full response to the Mid-Scheme Review consultation. HRS hopes that these newly announced measures will unlock the considerable biogas potential in the country, allowing a number of proposed and planned AD plants to now proceed to completion. As we have previously commented, it is imperative that AD plants maximise efficiency at every stage of the process, for both economic and environmental reasons, and doing so will require a multi-disciplinary approach including the use of heat regeneration through heat exchangers, as well as the use of bespoke systems such as the HRS BDS (Biogas Dehumidification System), DCS (Digestate Concentration System) and DPS (Digestate Pasteurisation System). www.hrs-heatexchangers.com

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Booth Dispensers launches brand new website Our website has recently relaunched and is now better than ever Since 1965, Booth has been a leading UK manufacturer offering bespoke design solutions for a variety of industries. We have an in-house team of experts with years of experience in manufacturing and design and we are always keen to bring our unique skills to your project. We have recently relaunched our website and it’s now even easier to find your favourite dispense products and discover exciting new ones at the same time! Completely overhauled with a new comprehensive product catalogue and improved navigation, you can now explore our entire range online, featuring exclusive offers, access to in-depth unit information and installation guides! Say goodbye to warm drinks and hello to refreshing beverages! Whether you're in need of beer chillers, soft drink carbonators, water coolers, cask equipment, or keg dispense equipment, we've got you covered.

Join our website today and discover the ultimate one-stop-shop solution for all your cooling and dispense needs. Don't miss out, visit us online now and quench your thirst for convenience at www.booth-dispensers.co.uk If you would like to speak with us about our equipment or require help with your setup, please call our sales team for more information on 01253 501800 or send an email to CustomerService@ booth-dispensers.co.uk

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MEMBERS’ NEWS I

Muntons’ practical sustainability It’s no secret that at Muntons we are committed to sustainability. We were the first maltster to set a sciencebased target, a 45% reduction of our scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions by 2025. We are delighted to report that we have beaten that target 3 years early. We are excited to share with you the latest update on our world-leading sustainability programme. “As a company deeply invested in creating a positive impact on society and the planet, we believe that sustainability is not just a buzzword, but an integral part of our core values. Our ESG Report serves as a transparent account of our efforts, achievements, and the steps we are taking to create a more sustainable future for all,” commented Tim Wakeley, Head of the Sustainability Council at Muntons As the world’s greenest maltster, we are proud to produce 100% sustainable malt. We reuse or recycle 99.7% of all resources and are committed to practical, measurable actions across our

business and our supply chain. For us, sustainability goes deeper than what we do but it’s who we are. We live it, breathe it, and share it with pride. We have received many accolades including Global Brewing Supplier at the 11th RMI World Barley, Malt and Beer conference in 2022 for practical work in sustainability. We are proud of our involvement in pioneering programmes in malt production and helping to demystify the world of carbon for the wider food and drinks industry. We have recently been awarded a Platinum Medal for the second year running by EcoVadis, the world’s most trusted sustainability ratings organisation. This places us in the top 1% of companies globally for sustainability performance. We have invested in novel applications of technology across our Suffolk and Yorkshire plants including green energy generated from biomass, as well as water treatment, that cleans our used process water so it is safe to release back into the local river networks whilst

2022 report from Graphic Packaging Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE: GPK) has published its 2022 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report, demonstrating progress on all pillars in the company’s ESG Vision 2025. The company achieved its climate intensity goals three years early and advanced decarbonisation by seeking to set new, science-based climate targets to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions. Ethnic diversity reported among the company’s U.S. employee base was more than double the industry benchmark, underscoring its commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Graphic Packaging is aggressively pursuing a future fuelled by renewable resources. Packaging solutions from the 27-country operation are made primarily with fibres from sustainably sourced trees or recycled materials. Nearly 65 percent of its energy is derived from renewable sources. Most of the company’s packaging today is designed to be recyclable, promoting a circular economy. “We work relentlessly to develop resource-eﬃcient and easily recyclable packaging solutions that use natural resources responsibly,” said President and CEO Michael P. Doss at Graphic

Packaging. “We enable our customers — the world’s leading household brands — to shift toward more recyclable packaging. In addition to helping them meet their sustainability goals, we help shape how they think about packaging their products for the future.”

creating power and heat for our processes at the same time! Having been in the earliest cohort of manufacturers, and the only maltster, to set sciencebased targets to reduce emissions by 2025 and to commit to being Net Zero by 2050, the progress we have made so far has given us the confidence to challenge the business even further. We are already seeing decarbonisation of our UK maltings by around 70% which has resulted in us bringing forward our net zero target by 2 decades to 2030. Our ESG Report is available to download www.muntons.com/ practical-sustainability

More in-depth reading South African Breweries turns to Certa pumps for yeast cropping

“We are making progress every day, delivering positive outcomes for our people, our planet, and ultimately the growth and sustainability of our company,” said Michelle Fitzpatrick, Chief Sustainability Officer. “Our purpose is to package life’s everyday moments for a renewable future. And we want every one of those moments to be inherently better for people and our planet.”

South African Breweries (SAB) is using three MasoSine Certa 400 pumps from Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions (WMFTS) as part of a yeast cropping application after assessing energy consumption comparisons between Certa and other pumps.

The new ESG report follows announcements in 2022 that Graphic Packaging was recognised as one of America’s Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek for the third year in a row. In addition, Graphic Packaging received a GOLD medal rating from EcoVadis, which assesses companies on environment, labour and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement, and it achieved a leadership rating for both its CDP climate and CDP water disclosures.

Read the full story by scanning the code below.

www.graphicpkg.com

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MEMBERS’ NEWS I

Visit to K-Flex Beverage UK, formally Bevex™ Ruth Evans of BFBi recently visited Dirk Parker of K-Flex Beverage UK. Bevex (the well-known brand name for pythons and tubing products including tap and trace cooling assemblies and a range of ancillary products for the beverage industry worldwide) is owned by multinational, privately owned L’Isolante K-Flex. For over 30 years K-Flex products have been recognised in the insulation market for their high standards of innovation. quality and performance, playing an essential role in energy consumption control and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, reducing the companies CO2 footprint year-on-year. With a group turnover of £630 million (£80 million of organic growth in 2022), recent growth within the group has been achieved via the expansion of the manufacturing plant in Poland to 1.4 million sq. ft. K-Flex Beverage UK, based in Coalville, Leicestershire, employs 54 members of staff. Having invested £1million during 2023, the company is investing a further £1million on plant and equipment in 2024 to support the growing requirements of their customer base. Ruth was given a tour of the factory, where a full range of products were being manufactured in the recently extended factory and warehouse facility, including LDPE tubing for the non-food market (incorporating the recycling of “waste” LDPE from previous production runs) plus their new spiral-wound beverage Python. The new coated and spiral-wound Python,

which ensures ease of installation and a tough outer skin to protect the insulation, is being released into the market now and will be a marketleading product. As expected, all production runs are fully traceable in real time for quality control and raw material batch traceability. Dirk noted that K-Flex was the only manufacturer in the world supplying insulation, tubing, and pythons via its own facilities, ensuring security of the supply chain. When asked if this security of supply could be compromised, Ruth was assured that by having duplicated manufacturing in both the UK and Poland for the full range of beverage products and associated raw materials, this eliminated any risk to the supply chain for their customer base. Asked what K-Flex Beverage was doing to address the environmental sustainability agenda, the answer was “watch this space”, with K-Flex finalising work on new products which would address both energy and environmental challenges currently encountered with dispense installations. Dirk also outlined K-Flex’s plans for a meeting/training centre and Control Conditioning Room, where pythons and trace cooling assemblies will be performance-tested under different environmental conditions. www.kflex.com or email uksales@kflex.com

More in-depth reading Gorgeous jar gift boxes for a superb unboxing experience Quince Honey Farm turned to Smurfit Kappa packaging design hive to conceptualise a design for sustainable three-jar gift box packaging Read the full story by scanning the code left.

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Simpsons Malt site passes food safety audit A malting site owned by fifthgeneration family business, Simpsons Malt Limited, has reached a new level in global food safety standards after successfully passing its recent Food Safety System Certification (FSSC) 22000 audit.

The company’s Tivetshall Maltings in south Norfolk was the focus of an intensive, three-day inspection, which examined the site’s entire operations and processes from barley intake through to malt despatch and followed several years’ work internally to raise and maintain quality standards. As Tivetshall supplies around 55,000 tonnes of malt per year worldwide to the brewing and food industries, achieving FSSC 22000 had been viewed as a key company objective due to it being an internationally-recognised standard. As such, some of the UK’s largest brewing brands, along with the company’s network of global distributors – including BSG (North America), Agronet Brewing (Spain, France & Portugal) and Mr Malt (Italy) – will be among those to benefit from the certification, providing assurance around the food safety of its high-quality malts. Graham Kendall, Tivetshall Operations Director, said: “After the culmination of several years’ hard work by all colleagues, we’re delighted that Tivetshall has successfully passed its FSSC 22000 audit. “Achieving this internationally recognised standard has raised the bar for our internal operations and processes, with many new programmes having been implemented over the past few years that are now being maintained on a daily basis. “We also hope it will provide further confidence to our global network of customers in the brewing and food industries around the food safety and quality of our malts, for which we are renowned.” www.simpsonsmalt.co.uk

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MEMBERS’ NEWS I

Virtual configurator optimises process valve selection The Corona pandemic has advanced virtual communication, particularly in B-to-B areas, due to its 24/7 availability, standardised processes, clear storage of information, and sustainability. The Pentair product configurator "mySüdmo," is an excellent example of this modern communication tool, allowing customers to select the right process valve for their needs without installing an app or program. This browser-based application allows for easy access and customisation, promoting sustainability and convenience in B-to-B communication. The configurator uses a guided selling approach based on specific application questions, developed with sales and construction specialists. The process starts with "I need help with my

selection" or "I already know my valve type." Option 1 will provide options such as – brewery, production, aseptic / switching / tank bottom valves etc., activators & housing, resulting in a proposal that includes all relevant data, documentation and 3D animations, ensuring the customer knows exactly what they are getting. If the basic valve type is known, the selection is made via stored product series or product families. Providing a tailored proposal to the customer as soon as possible, the system uses a shopping cart function to send a detailed enquiry to the responsible department, who checks the request's plausibility and prepares an offer. This process is not automated but involves physical contact, aiming to speed up response and processing times.

Save money and meet environmental compliance standards with Magmex® Water is an essential component in many production processes and especially so in the brewing industry. However, across the industry, 70% of the fresh water drawn into the brewing process ends up as effluent which needs to be treated. One of the various types of wastewater produced is acidic wastewater, which must be neutralised before discharge to meet pH and other trade effluent discharge consents. OMEX Environmental Ltd is an industrial wastewater treatment specialist and offers a wide range of expertise and solutions for wastewater, trade effluent and environmental management. This includes the evaluation of industrial wastewater and trade effluent from manufacturing and industrial processes, recommending cost-effective solutions to ensure cost and process optimisation is achieved as well as ensuring environmental compliance standards are met and maintained. When it comes to acidic wastewater, OMEX supplies the Magmex® range of products, a safe and easy to regulate

alternative to the more traditional hazardous products such as caustic soda. What is Magmex®? Magmex® is a range of Magnesium Hydroxide suspensions used for acidic wastewater treatment, to control pH levels within both anaerobic and aerobic systems. Traditionally, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) and calcium hydroxide (lime) have been used to neutralise acidic wastewater. However, these compounds can cause high pH levels if not controlled correctly, which can lead to the high consumption of the neutraliser. The Magmex® range is the environmentally-friendly answer for acidic wastewater treatment. It is safe, easy-to-use and overcomes the majority of problems associated with traditional neutralisers. In addition, and in certain applications, it can be used as a means of odour and/or septicity control by binding hydrogen sulphide immediately during formation.

A virtual product range with over 100,00 valves The configurator maps double seat, single seat, and butterfly valves, aiming to make over 100,000 products available virtually. Documentation, videos, and language range expansion are currently being explored. The configurator is an in-house development, allowing for flexible implementation and market response. The goal is to provide higher efficiency, speed, and security for a better customer experience. mysudmo.pentair.com

More in-depth reading The story behind Silent Pool Gin Croxsons CEO, Tim Croxson, visited long-time customer Silent Pool Distillery in the heart of the Surrey Hills. Tim and the Founding Director of Silent Pool Distillers, Ian McCulloch, spoke about the journey Silent Pool has been on and how Croxsons has supported the company since its inception in 2014. From where the core colour of the brand comes from, and the expansion of the site in the beautiful Surrey Hills, to where next for Silent Pool Distillers.

You can watch the case study on YouTube channel, using the link below.

The range can be made available in both bulk and IBC containers. www.omexenvironmental.com

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MEMBERS’ NEWS I

Making sustainable attainable 150 years of working hand-in-glove with growers - and of passing traditional practices from one generation to another - means sustainability has always been important to Crisp. Now Anglia Maltings Holdings (AMH), of which Crisp Malt is part, has announced its commitment to Net Zero by 2045 and has launched an inaugural Sustainability Report. The report can be downloaded from the Crisp website. The report outlines our Sustainability Strategy, which is guided by the UN Sustainability Development Goals and by the company purpose and values. It lays out the goals for AMH’s three businesses – maltsters, Crisp Malt; food ingredient producers, EDME; and cereal processors, Micronized Food Products and the plans for achieving them. Significant inroads have already been made.

Electricity across the company’s UK sites is from 100% renewable sources. The adoption of best techniques, including heat exchangers and CHP (combined heat and power) systems, ensures that CO2 emissions are minimised. There is very little waste. Co-products from processing, for example, go to animal feed. Plus, the location of Crisp’s UK sites in the heart of the country’s best cereal growing regions, ensures the minimalisation of HGV food miles. “We are on the right track, but of course there is still a lot to do,” says AMH chief executive, Stuart Sands. “In a business built on the relationship with the land, we’re highly conscious of what has been passed down to us. We, in turn, have one eye on the future, and the legacy we will leave to those who follow. One of our company values, ‘Pass it on Better’, sums it up neatly. “The impact of climate change affects us all, and we all have a part to play in reducing our impact on the environment. It is only by setting

Online fermentation monitoring To guarantee constant product quality and to meet pre-determined standards, online monitoring of the fermentation process is becoming increasingly important. In both brewing and distilling, fermentation simply means "a process by which yeast converts the 'sugar' in the wort to ethyl alcohol (ethanol) and carbon dioxide gas. During the fermentation process the reduction in the concentration of sugars due to yeast metabolism reflects an increasing concentration of alcohol. A key variable which characterise the state of fermentation is the extract concentration and hence the degree of fermentation. As the fermentation proceeds, the extract concentration drops and is typically measured off-line at least once a day. Only online process measurements ensure continuous process monitoring, control, and exact end-point determination, thus enable comprehensive regulation of product quality, and process efficiency. Improve consistency, increase throughput, reduce sampling, and minimise loss. By installing the Fermentation Monitor 5100 directly into the vessel, or recirculation line, continuous fermentation monitoring is accomplished. Anton Paar’s inline Fermentation Monitor 5100 (based on the measurement of the refractive index RI) has proven to be well suited for the

ambitious goals; devising effective strategies; and working cooperatively with partners and communities; that anything meaningful will be achieved.” Stuart concludes, “We’re committed to Net Zero by 2045, and are working in partnership with our suppliers and customers to help us get there. Effective collaboration is the key to passing things on better to the next generation.” crispmalt.com

More in-depth reading The CO2 shortage: Why carbon capture is high on the agenda for the food & beverage sector White Paper from the Analox Group Scan to download

continuous monitoring of fermentation processes. Directly installed into the fermentation tank or recirculation line, to measure extract and alcohol content, as well as degree of fermentation in real-time. The Fermentation Monitor L-Rix 5100 is unaffected by variable process solids. Fermentation Monitor 5100 delivers: • Original Extract [°Plato] • Apparent Extract Density [°Plato] • Alcohol [%w/w] • Alcohol 20°C [%v/v] • Real Extract [°Plato] • Real Degree of fermentation [%] • Fermentation Speed [Alcohol 20°C increase in %v/v / h • The determined values match the reference values by typically better than <0.1 °Plato and <0,2 %v/v Alcohol, and can be displayed and recorded with the mPDS 5 evaluation unit or Pico 3000 HMI. Fermentation Monitor 5100 enables: • Reduction of manual sampling – (minimising risk of sampling errors) • Continuously track the progress and determine the endpoint • Fermentation Monitor 5100 enables: • Reduction of manual sampling – (minimising risk of sampling errors) • Continuously track the progress and determine the endpoint www.anton-paar.com

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Brewing greatness has never been this energyefficient! Hypro presents its groundbreaking achievement – the patented Smart Wort Cooler. Scan to download

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MEMBERS’ NEWS I

Three hygiene companies join forces in strategic alliance

A leading family-owned supplier of detergents and disinfectants, Christeyns Food Hygiene, has teamed up in a tri-partner initiative with specialist producers of world-renowned equipment manufacturer, Foamico, and hygiene equipment specialists, H&M Disinfection.

This partnership provides the confidence that hygiene operations need to deliver world-class cleaning in the demanding food, dairy and beverage industries from design and supply to effective cleaning and disinfection. For over 30 years Christeyns Food Hygiene has produced effective formulations of detergents and disinfectants for all applications in the food, dairy and beverage industries with customers from across a range of household consumer brands and suppliers to the UK’s food retailers. As part of family-owned Belgium parent company, Christeyns NV, the firm draws on the expertise and knowledge of a multi-national team of experts.

Foamico is an independent manufacturer of superior cleaning solutions in the food, dairy and beverage industries. Its core business is to develop, manufacture and deliver reliable and efficient cleaning solutions for surface and open plant cleaning worldwide. Operating in 50 countries, Foamico’s key focus in on food safety with a reputation for innovation and reliability. Having worked with CFH for three decades, H&M Disinfection Ltd has built a reputation for providing high quality, bespoke hygiene application equipment which is the cornerstone of many customer’s food safety management systems. The partnership was formalised last year to provide customers with a more stream-lined service in the provision of top-quality formulations and equipment. In partnership, the three firms are committed to improving customer’s hygiene operations through effective detergents and disinfectants and the

highest quality of bespoke equipment. The new strategic alliance will allow the provision of a unique turnkey solution to the food, dairy and beverage industries in the UK supplying chemicals required to achieve food safety coupled with the equipment critical to delivering those products to the food contact surface. “This is a major step for us and our customers,” states CFH Operations Director Andy Bethel. “Three specialist companies coming together to provide excellent equipment, control systems and reliable pump-sets, combined with specialised formulations, will ensure our customers have a one-point solution for both chemistry and application equipment they can rely on.” www.christeyns.com

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BFBi & IBD NEWS I Western Section Seminar & Lunch

The Institute of Brewing & Distilling has been granted chartered status

The annual Western Section Seminar & Lunch took place at The Queens Hotel, Cheltenham, Friday 27th October. The informal mix of knowledge, delivery and networking was well received with great attendance by members and drinks manufacturers.

The Institute of Brewing & Distilling (IBD) is delighted to announce that it has been granted chartered status.

Theme of the day was CO2 Recovery – Beyond The Hype, presented by: • Sam Lawson, SSV - “What Systems Are Available?” • Martyn Ralph, BEA & IBD – “CO2 Recovery, Is It Right For My Brewery?” • Bluestone Brewery – “Innovative Uses Once Recovered” As with all BFBi events, knowledge delivered was pragmatic and directly applicable to industry, whether large or small manufacturer. A buffet lunch followed, ending with a tour of Cheltenham pubs, ending at Deya Brewery. The Section is now looking for the next “hot topic” in order to put a programme together for next year. Anybody wishing to receive the slide deck from the day and/or has suggestions for what the Section should address next year, please contact info@bfbi.org.uk

In one of the most important milestones in its history, the IBD intends to proudly become the Chartered Institute of Brewers and Distillers from the 1st of January 2024. Chartership represents the highest accolade that a professional institution can receive to raise the professional status of its members. As a chartered organisation, the IBD will provide brewers, distillers, and allied industry professionals with a globally recognised mark of quality and set standards of professionalism and performance. This will help them thrive in their careers, like other chartered professionals in areas such as engineering, accountancy, and medicine. Chartered status will help the IBD build public trust and confidence in the global drinks industry and build recognition for its importance to society and the economy. Furthermore, the charter reinforces the credibility of the IBD in delivering excellence in professional qualifications for the drinks industry. To achieve the benefits of chartership for its members, the IBD will embark on a strategic programme to deliver a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) pathway. This will ensure that future chartered members will maintain their professional credibility through continuous acquisition of the latest industry technical knowledge and adherence to a professional code of conduct. These chartered members of the IBD will gain the credibility to raise their professional profiles and become more marketable in a higher-valued industry. For businesses, this means that they will be able to identify and recruit talented professionals trained to the highest industry standard, capable of addressing strategic local and global needs. The process to be granted this chartered status started four years ago and has

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involved the valuable support of key drinks industry and education organisations, as well as the IBD’s members who overwhelmingly endorsed the proposal at an Extraordinary General Meeting in June 2022. The next two years will be very exciting for the IBD with the development of robust structures required to drive excellence in professional standards for its members. Tom Shelston, IBD Chief Executive Officer:“Chartership brings the highest accolade for professionals working within our industry, providing rightful recognition and respect of the science and art of brewing and distilling across the globe. The new chartered status will help us create a united and connected fellowship of like-minded professionals committed to their continued development in pursuit of mastering their profession.” Bhavya Mandanna, IBD President, says: “Achievement of chartered status for the IBD is a historic change of great pride for us all. Gaining recognition for our contribution to professional development in our and our allied industries will only spur us on to achieve greater heights through a robust framework of continuous professional development. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank everyone in our organisation, past and present, who have worked tirelessly to achieve this industry accolade, our industry partners who have been a great support along this journey, and you, our members, our greatest asset, for your faith in the IBD. We look forward to a brighter future together as we work through the chartership to maximise benefits for our members and industry, raising the bar at every step.” The Institute of Brewing & Distilling has also announced Dr Megan Sheehy as its new President. Megan is taking on the role from Bhavya Mandanna and will become the IBD’s second successive female President and the fourth woman in this role in the history of the organisation. ibd.org.uk

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BFBi NEWS I

BFBi Midland Section Golf Day 2023 The 2023 Midland Section Golf Day took place at Branston Golf and Country Club. 15 teams entered and were greeted on arrival with some heavy rain and a very damp golf course. Thankfully, by the time the bacon rolls and coffee was consumed, the rain had eased and we where set for better golfing weather.

Despite the damp conditions there was some excellent scores recorded. Jeff Haywood from Ecolab and Martin West from Briggs both finishing on 42 points each, only to be separated by a card countback giving the overall win to Martin. As tradition dictates, the prize table is supported by the attending member companies. I must state that, in all the years I have attended this event, it was the largest collection of prizes I have ever seen. My thanks go out to all the companies who supported us and their outstanding generosity. Thanks also to Harry Mason for their donation of beer and beer engine at the halfway house. At 5.2 % ABV it may have been a tactical ploy by the Harry Mason team though!

Midland Section Chairman, Darren Spooner, presenting the Bevex Trophy for the best gross score to Martin West of Briggs PLC

I have a provisional date for 2024 and it is Thursday 26th September.

Midland Section Chairman, Darren Spooner (right), presenting the Alan Britton Trophy to Jeff Hayward of Ecolab

Finally, thanks to Mick and Charlie for the photos, prize table sorting and recovering all the cards at the end. Without them I’d probably still be there! Nick Hill of Harry Mason and team mates

Pete Lawley

Welcome back BFBi London Section Committee! A number of BFBi members, based in the London & South East region of the country, met at Sambrooks Brewery in early October to discuss the benefits of reforming a Section Committee, with a view to organising a range of events in the area. The Section has been renamed London & South East (L&SE) and will be providing a number of sub-regional, informal knowledge delivery and social events through 2024 aimed at the brewing, distilling, wine and cider industries. Committee membership includes Richard Atkinson, Konvoy Kegs; Darren Ensor, Christeyns; Jim Rankin, Rankin Brothers & Sons; and Frank Ryan, CO2 Gas Company. Jim Campbell, Donaldson Filtration, has taken the role of Section Chairman. Jim (pictured) started his working life as a Coppersmith, completing his apprenticeship in ship-repair followed by a few years in shipbuilding, before returning to education to study Mechanical Engineering. He then worked as a Production Engineer before starting his career in filtration, where he has worked for the last 35 years in several leading (and some other) filter companies, mostly in Food & Beverage as a Sales Engineer/Manager and latterly as an Application Engineer (aka “Filter Geek”) for Donaldson Filtration. Donaldson is a world-leading manufacturer and supplier of excellent Process Filtration solutions to the F&B and Life Science industries (which Jim immodestly describes as “the best job in the world working with the best team in the world for the best filter company in the world”!).

helps the homeless, marginalised and vulnerable in Portsmouth and Southsea, for which he (on behalf of the team that he leads) was awarded the British Empire Medal by Queen Elizabeth II in Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee (and final) awards. As well as agreeing on a programme of events in 2024, the Committee also agreed a social media campaign, promoting member companies within the region and how they bring their expertise to the supply chain, so look out for them. Membership of BFBi spans the entire supply chain – from grain to glass – and, if you are looking for a product or service to support your company, use the Member Search facility on the website, ring +44 (0)1902 402303 or email info@bfbi.org.uk

In his spare time Jim is an avid supporter of his home city team Portsmouth FC, supporting them through thin and thin for most of the last 50 years, half of that as a season ticket holder. He also helps to run a small outreach charity that feeds and

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Forthcoming events 2023

DECEMBER Friday 8th Midland Section Pub Tour – venue tbc

2024

JANUARY

Brewing Food & Beverage Industry Suppliers’ Association 11 Side Strand • Pendeford Place Pendeford Business Park Wolverhampton WV9 5HD

Chief Executive: Ruth Evans MBE Tel: +44 (0)1902 422303 Fax: +44 (0)1902 795744 Email: info@bfbi.org.uk Website: www.bfbi.org.uk OVER 100 YEARS SERVICE TO THE BREWING, FOOD & BEVERAGE INDUSTRY Limited Company by Guarantee Company Registration Number 11760186

Thursday 11th Western Section EGM, Networking & Tour of Quantock Brewery – Bishops Lydeard, Taunton Thursday 25th Wye Valley Brewery Tour – Stoke Lacey, Hereford

FEBRUARY Friday 2nd Tour of Heart of Suﬀolk Distillery & Humber Doucy Brewery Thursday 22nd Club, Birmingham – social event – darts, beer & pizza £27/head + VAT

MARCH Thursday 7th Northern Section Lunch – The Queens Hotel, Leeds Wednesday 13th BFBi BeerX Evening – The Pump House, Liverpool Tuesday 19th - Thursday 21st International Brewing and Cider Awards – Mayfield Depot, Manchester Friday 22nd Announcements of IBCA Medals – Mayfield Depot, Manchester Friday 22nd - Saturday 23rd International Beer & Cider Festival Trade Day – Mayfield Depot, Manchester

APRIL BFBi represents the supply chain into the beverage industry with Full Members ranging from barley and hop merchants through to process engineers, packaging, point of sale, etc.

Friday 18th - Eastern Section AGM, Annual Dinner & Casino Evening – Robinson College, Cambridge Thursday 24th Tour of ChapelDown Winery & Disgourging Facility – Kent

Manufacturers, including brewers/distillers, may join as Associate Members.

MAY

As a “traditional” industry (in its best sense), where relationships between supplier and customer are recognised as adding value and ensuring sustainability, BFBi is well known as a facilitator of social and professional networking events.

JUNE

Thursday 1st National Lunch hosting International Brewing and Cider Awards – Guildhall, London Wednesday 18th Midland Section Tour & Luncheon – House of Lords, London For further information about any of our events please contact ruth.evans@bfbi.org.uk

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