Gea has launched a new group structure developed as part of its “Fit for 2020” initiative. With immediate effect, the Group is bundling and reporting the development and manufacturing of products and the provision of process solutions in two new business areas – “Equipment” and “Solutions”.

The Brewers of Europe’s announcement of a major commitment to list ingredients and nutrition information for beer at the end of March drew mixed reactions.

Calculations relating to beer

In the previous article (BRAUWELT International no. 1, 2015, pp. 20-22), a possibility of calculating alcohol content (% w/w) of finished beer based on the two parameters “original gravity before fermentation” and “apparent extract” was described. In most instances however, small breweries and craft brewers test their finished beer purely by sensory analysis in the absence of in-situ, expensive equipment. In this article, I would like to give small breweries means for preparing an “abridged beer analysis” in-house, based on calculations generally widespread in the brewing sector.

Low-oxygen brewing process ensures high quality

With total output of 6.4 million hl per year Krombacher Brewery, founded in 1803, is one of the largest private breweries in Germany. The company’s success: the high quality of their products. Taste, turbidity and shelf life of the beer play an important role in this process – for all these factors the dissolved oxygen content of the product is key. Based on this background, continuous measurement of the dissolved oxygen content is very important – and the sensors of the Swiss company Hamilton Bonaduz AG provide a significant contribution.

Sustainability in craft brewing

Mödinger, M.; Landerer, K.: Sustainability in Craft Brewing, 2014, 104 pages, soft cover, Fachverlag Hans Carl GmbH, Nuremberg, 19.90 EUR.

Euromalt, the European malting industry Association, and the European Brewery Convention (EBC), the technical and scientific arm within The Brewers of Europe, have reached an important breakthrough in the research on gushing: in a joint research project with the German Research and Teaching Institute for Brewing in Berlin (VLB), a potential method to predict the gushing potential of malt and beer samples was identified.

Sustainable energy data management

Continuous improvement | For many years beverage production plants had the goal of reducing consumption and increasing productivity. Both financial and climate protection aspects have been keeping continuous improvement processes alive. This article looks at the implications these optimization efforts have on users’ demands for energy data management systems (EDMS).

Refrigeration trends in brewing

Energy-efficient refrigeration concept | The brewing sector is experiencing high pressure on margins. Simultaneously, production costs are increasing rapidly due to rising energy costs. In order to provide refrigeration in the most efficient manner, the search for supply concepts that take account of technical, economic and ecological factors is growing in importance. The following contribution describes the multi-faceted aspects of providing factory refrigeration and offers refrigeration contracting as a solution.

Energy saving in malt milling

Potential usages | In recent years, energy savings have been achieved in the brewhouse, fermenting room/storage cellar and in filling. With modern malt reception and milling, energy usage could be lowered still further while simultaneously raising yield.

In the globally recognised annual sustainability ratings issued by Oekom Research AG, Munich, Germany, Krones AG, Neutraubling, Germany, has improved its status from a C+ Prime to a B- Prime. This is the best rating achieved since the company was first included in the analyses. With this rating, Krones AG now ranks among the three best companies in the “machinery” category, and is thus listed as an “Industry Leader”.

Krones AG, Neutraubling, Germany has rejuvenated its subsidiary Kosme, which produces machines and lines for the lower output range. The new organisation relates solely to Kosme’s facility in Roverbella, Italy.