Modern breweries are no longer the image of workers toiling away in sweltering heat. From raw material intake to finished product output, almost every step can be automated. The core of brewery equipment automation in the central control system (such as Siemens or Rockwell), which acts like a brain, coordinating all equipment to make the production process precise, efficient, and labor-saving.
The equipment that can achieve full automation in the brewing process mainly falls into the following major categories:
1. Core Brewing Area: Brewhouse and Fermentation
This is the crucial step that determines the quality and flavor of beer, and it is also the most automated part.
– Intelligent Brewhouse System: This is a truly “lights-out” area. The system automatically controls the conveying and crushing of raw materials (malt, rice) according to a preset recipe. In the mashing and Brewhouse tanks, temperature sensors and PLC controllers precisely execute complex temperature programs to ensure complete starch Brewhouse. Advanced filter tanks can also automatically till and wash the washer fluid, precisely separating the wort.
– Fully Automated Fermentation Workshop: Today, the massive conical fermenters are equipped with fermentation computer rooms. The central system monitors the temperature, pressure, and sugar content of each tank in real time via temperature transmitters, and automatically adjusts the cooling system without manual intervention.
– Fermentation Valve Array System: This is equivalent to a “pipeline transportation hub.” Previously, switching pipelines required workers to manually open and close valves throughout the workshop. Now, with the fermentation valve array, operators can automatically complete complex processes such as wort transfer and tank emptying with a simple click on a computer.
Filtration and Stabilization: A Clear Brew from Clear Water
To achieve clear and bright beer, modern factories employ more advanced automated filtration equipment.
Membrane Filtration System: More and more factories are using fully automated membrane filters (such as polymer membrane modules) to replace traditional diatomaceous earth filters. It precisely intercepts yeast and tiny impurities; the entire process is automatically controlled by the system, resulting in fresher beer without producing waste, making it more environmentally friendly.
2. Auxiliary Systems: The Invisible Smart Butler
Behind the efficient operation of a brewery lies a network of silently working automated auxiliary systems.
CIP Automatic Cleaning System: This is the brewery’s “self-cleaning butler.” The system records the usage time of each piece of equipment and automatically activates the program when cleaning is needed. It uses spray balls to circulate and rinse tanks and pipes with alkaline and acidic solutions of varying temperatures and concentrations, ensuring a sterile environment. If any equipment fails to pass cleaning, the system will even prevent it from being used in production, completely eliminating any unsanitary areas.
Packaging and Logistics: An Arena of Speed and Intelligence
The packaging workshop is where automation is at its most impressive, operating at extremely high speeds.
– High-Speed Filling and Packaging Line: From unpalletizing and washing empty bottles to filling, capping, sterilizing, and labeling beer, and then to boxing and palletizing, the entire line is automated. For example, one bottling line can process 36,000 bottles of beer per hour.
– Intelligent Robots: Intelligent robotic arms showcase their capabilities here, precisely stacking finished product cases neatly and working in conjunction with AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) unmanned transport vehicles to achieve automated warehousing.
– AI Quality Inspectors: The AI intelligent vision inspection system on the production line can check the clarity of the beer, the tightness of the bottle caps, and the correctness of the labels with a 99.7% recognition rate, making it more reliable than the human eye.
3. Smart Brain: A Visible Control System
Connecting all the equipment is a powerful software system.
– Central Control Room and Remote Control: In the factory’s central control room, over 300 process parameters are displayed in real time on a large screen. Even more cutting-edge, some craft breweries have introduced digital twin technology, allowing managers to remotely monitor production via a mobile app, and even enabling brewers abroad to “remotely control” brewing from a distance.
– Traceability System: The QR code on each beer bottle cap or label is its digital ID card. This code allows for traceability of the beer’s batch, the raw materials used, and the inspector, achieving end-to-end data traceability.
In summary, from formula allocation to finished beer warehousing, modern breweries are fully capable of 24/7 automated production, except for regular equipment maintenance and inspections. These automated systems not only free up manpower but are also the secret weapon for ensuring consistent taste in every bottle of beer. Brewery equipment automation really saves a lot of labor work and makes brewery much more smart!
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Айви Лян (директор по продажам)
Электронная почта: [email protected]
