Brussels | In April, four leading flat-rolled aluminium manufacturers and members of the European Aluminium Packaging Group (EAPG), Constellium, Elval, Novelis and Speira, have signed an agreement to engage in a standardisation project to maximise the recycled content levels of the beverage can and thus substantially lower carbon emissions, focused on increased recyclability of the can end.

The importance of marking in the brewing industry

Process optimization | The culture associated with beer is evolving all the time and the brewing industry is getting redefined by current trends. At the same time, high product quality and efficient bottling including an ultimately reliable marking system all remain central to the success of breweries, especially now that the popularity of international and exotic beers continues to intensify the competitive situation.

The wooden beer barrel (Part 3): Beer in modern-day seafaring

High seas and world records | The first installment in this series (BRAUWELT International no. 1, 2022, pp. 30–34) followed the trail from the creation of the wooden beer keg to its role in the Hanseatic League and in sea voyages during the Age of Exploration. The second installment (BRAUWELT International no. 2, 2022, pp. 135–137) was devoted to recounting the struggle seafarers faced against the disease scurvy. In this final installment, Dr. Markus Fohr discusses the beer produced on modern cruise ships and how the wooden barrel has found its way into our language and even into world records.

Packaging trends | What are the current trends in beer and beverage packaging? What will be next? Further, who drives the marked changes and customer demand? These are some of the questions, that will be discussed on the 2nd VLB Packaging Conference (VPC), taking place from 30 August to 1 September 2022 online at the VLB Virtual Campus – just 2 weeks before the drinktec (12 to 16 September in Munich).

The wooden beer barrel (Part 2): The battle against scurvy

Manuka beer | The first installation in this three-part series (refer to BRAUWELT International no. 1, 2022, pp. 30–34) described the origins of wooden beer barrels in antiquity, their use by the Hanseatic League and on sea voyages during the Age of Exploration. Those who sailed the Seven Seas were often confronted with an uninvited guest: scurvy, an insidious disease caused by vitamin deficiency. Part 2 in this series is devoted to the topic of how sailors fought scurvy and the crucial role played by spruce beer in doing so ...

Rothaus Brewery modernises glass returnables line

Key to success | To make a long story short, there are a minimum of four key factors behind the success of the Badische Staatsbrauerei Rothaus AG: a clear commitment to the home region, the Black Forest; popular beers like the Tannenzäpfle that are well known well beyond regional borders; quality beyond reproach; and, last but not least, ongoing investment in technical facilities. In its anniversary year 2021 – Rothaus has been brewing now for 230 years – another major project has been launched, the complete modernisation of a 50 000-bottle line for glass renewables. In this project the redesign of the palletising area including the pallet transport has already been successfully completed.

The wooden beer barrel (Part 1): “Water, water, everywhere – but not a drop to drink!”

A Seaworthy Transport Container | BRAUWELT author Dr. Markus Fohr takes us on the wild barrel ride that beer has taken through history. He begins part 1 on the “path into the woods” with the invention of the wooden barrel and its role in antiquity up through to the sea voyages in the Age of Discovery.

Russian trade fair | upakovka – Processing and Packaging will once again offer a presence platform for personal exchange within the industry from January 25 to 28, 2022, at the AO Expocentre Krasnaya Presnya exhibition center in Moscow. As in the past, it will be held in parallel with interplastica – International Trade Fair for Plastics and Rubber. A total of about 600 companies from 26 countries have announced their participation in both trade fairs. In 2021 the trade fair duo had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.

Vertical conveying on the filling line

Taking things to a new level | The demands made of a line layout have dramatically changed over the years. The amount of space available is now one of the most important factors when designing a new line or expanding an existing setup. Free access areas for safe and cost-efficient maintenance are also essential. The creation and use of new levels is one good way of making the best and most cost-efficient use of the available space.

Industry 4.0 solution for reducing keg losses

Asset control | Like all breweries today, BGI Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, has been continuously facing significant financial losses related to the loss of their kegs. To resolve the problem, they engaged experts in breweries automation from Montelektro and their partners from 8Sigma, whose expertise is developing Manufacturing Execution System (MES) and similar Industry 4.0 solutions.