OVERCOME THE CHALLENGE
D
espite the unprecedented
a vessel known as a mash or lauter tun,
impact on the UK’s
where the starch is converted into sugar.
hospitality sector as a
Traditionally, the grain is cracked and
result of the COVID-19
stored in a grist case and then gravity-fed
pandemic, our appetite
into a ‘masher’, where it is mixed with hot
for beer and spirits remains strong.
water prior to entering the mash tun.
For breweries, this has been driven in
However, in newer or smaller breweries,
part by consumer taste for craft beers;
the grist case often sits below the mash
while in the distilling sector, there has
tun, with a conveyor system transferring
been an increased demand for authentic
the grist to the masher.
and flavoured products such as artisan
This not only involves high incremental
gin.
costs but can also add complexity to
But while brewing and distilling
the conveying system, leading to mixing
operations of all sizes – from artisan
problems; water is often added unevenly,
craft to large and highly automated –
resulting in a mix that is not homogenous
remain popular, ring fencing already tight
and reduces the yield.
profit margins is critical if producers are to shoulder the economic burdens of
An ideal alternative to complex conveyor
COVID-19.
systems are PC pumps in Seepex’s BT range. These offer installation and
BY OPTIMISING THEIR ENTIRE OPERATION AND INCREASING THEIR PLANT’S OVERALL EFFICIENCY, PC PUMPS ARE HELPING BREWERS AND DISTILLERS TO REMAIN PROFITABLE DESPITE THE PANDEMIC PRESSURES, EXPLAINS PETER MCGARIAN, MANAGING DIRECTOR AT SEEPEX UK
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SUMMER 2021
The many challenges faced throughout
mashing-in flexibility, allowing the grist
the brewing or distilling process can
to be mixed with hot water and then
be divided into three major areas: raw
pumped into the mash tun.
materials handling, production, and waste handling.
Comprising a feed hopper and an auger
In each of these, accurate control of
feed screw, the pitch and diameter of
product flow is essential to ensure the
the auger can be adjusted for optimal
final product quality is consistently high.
product feed, ensuring a homogenous mix and a stable yield.
Pumps are therefore integral to brewing and distilling operations. However, not all
One producer who is already enjoying
pumps are created equal.
the benefits is Ringwood Brewery in Dorset. Thanks to the installation of a
Here, we demonstrate how switching to a
Seepex BT pump underneath the grist
progressive cavity (PC) pump can deliver
case, its grist is now carried safely,
efficiency, productivity and energy gains
effectively and consistently to the mash
to help brewers and distillers thrive, not
tun.
just survive, throughout the pandemic and beyond.
The time taken for transfer has been cut in half, improving production and
GRIST MIXING & TRANSFER
almost doubling mashing capacity. In addition, the pump system has been
The brewing or distilling process starts
fitted with Smart Conveying Technology
by mixing milled grain (grist) with water in
(SCT); an innovation from Seepex that
DISTILLERS JOURNAL
