The automation specialist Copa-Data and Kuka Roboter GmbH, Augsburg / Germany, one of the leading providers of industrial robots, announced a new, close working partnership. The two companies are joining forces to standardize on zenon as the visualization solution for the operation of Kuka robots - for more efficient industrial production and processing. zenon HMI/SCADA runs on the new, PC-based KR C4 control platform. The control system is used to control robots, movement, workflows and processes, as well as providing complete safety control. Its primary characteristic features are the minimal hardware requirements, intelligent software functions and impressive levels of openness and reliability.4" touch-screens.

The operator makes use of the visualization solution by means of the KUKA SmartPads - control units with 8. Users have all the functionalities they need for their tasks available on a user-friendly interface.

The Centec group, specialist in gas/liquid mixing and measurement of physical values, announced that it is going to distribute its broad program of density, sound velocity, CO₂ and O₂ concentration meters and systems for water treatment/de-aeration, blending, mixing, carbonation, flash-pasteurization, dealcoholisation units for the food and beverage industry through Oleinitec AB in Sweden, Denmark and Finland. More than 30 years ago, the Scandinavian-based company has started to establish sustainable relations with local industry to provide leading technology together with local high level support and service. The aim of the partnership is to link low-maintenance technology and on-line as well as laboratory measuring results.

Diageo plc with its headquarters in London, England, is a new member of the VLB Berlin. The membership agreement was signed on 15 May in Berlin by Christian von der Heide, Manufacturing Excellence and Technical Director Global Beer & Supply Chain Africa at Diageo.

Take up of Beer Academy courses has risen by over a third during the first three months of 2012 compared with bookings over the same period last year.

Paulaner wheat beer is worldwide still the most popular beer of its kind. The strong European sales market continues to drive growth. In Poland, sales increased by almost 29 percent; Spain saw more than 10 percent growth while 7 percent was recorded in Italy.

The butterfly valves in nominal sizes 15 – 50 - and up to 100 beginning in January 2012 - can be installed quickly and easily. They are easier to install than wafer and LUG type butterfly valves. In addition, the valve bodies of the butterfly valves come as standard with male threads. Therefore, no additional flanges, bolts, nuts and washers are required for installation in pipe systems. This simplifies installation and saves time and materials. Another advantage is compact installation length in all nominal sizes. This saves space and allows for cost-effective plant design.

In September 2010, Schmidt-Seeger GmbH was acquired by the Bühler Technology Group. Now that the integration has been completed, the company will in the future operate solely under the name of Bühler GmbH. The acquisition of this German grain management specialist has enabled Bühler to significantly increase its conveying, cleaning, drying, dedusting, and storage competencies, especially in the area of grain collection. These capabilities are now united in the Grain Logistics business unit.

With FusionLine Alfa Laval has developed a heat exchanger combining the strengths of plate and tubular technology. It offers the best of both worlds, combining the energy efficiency, accessibility and modularity of plate technology with the viscous and particulate-handling capabilities of tubular technology.

Since 1984, the J. De Clerck Chair has attracted up to 150 brewing experts from all over the world every two years, coming from different research institutes and breweries as well as the supplying industry. After three successive events which dealt with topics like oxygen, pH and polyphenols in the malting and brewing sciences, this edition will focus on what makes Belgium so attractive and original in the world of brewing : “Special Beers : The Belgian Paradox”. The event takes place from 12. – 14. September in Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium, Université Catholique de Louvain-La-Neuve.

With the latest generation of the Contiform series by Krones AG, the Contiform 3, the blow-moulding module has been entirely revamped. The linear oven of the Contiform S/H series has been design-enhanced and principally optimised in regard to its energy consumption.

Customized automation concepts for breweries

Automation of brewing systems has advanced quite rapidly, and new innovations are constantly improving automation concepts. Kaspar Schulz provides experience-based solutions, where the user – not the system – is the nexus of development. Also, upgrading existing systems with modern components is no longer a matter of long downtimes.