Top Automation Features for Brewing and Beverage Manufacturing

Elevate your brewing and beverage manufacturing with some of our most popular automation features, designed to enhance efficiency, reduce manual tasks, and ensure consistent results. In this video, we demonstrate key features from the HMI of our showroom system (10-barrel, four-vessel with a 2.5-barrel pilot setup).

Key Automation Features Highlighted in the Video:

1. Auto-Fill Functionality – Ensure optimal water levels in your hot and cold liquor tanks with automated hydrostatic level sensors.

2. Blending Automation – Deliver precise flow and temperature control for flawless mashing and sparging every time.

3. Lauter Transfer Automation – Streamline sparging and transfer rates for efficient extraction with minimal effort.

4. Wort Grant Level Monitoring – Maintain optimal bed height and achieve desired wort characteristics during lautering.

5. Auto-Knockout System – Achieve perfect flow rates and temperatures during knockout, making this critical step seamless and efficient.

6. Material Handling Automation – Automate grain handling with load cells, knife gates, and milling controls for hands-free grain management.

7. Boil Over Protection – Safeguard your team and equipment with sensors that prevent boil-overs during brewing.

8. Temperature Gradient and Lagering Automation – Achieve precise, long-term temperature control with automated gradients. This feature allows you to gradually reduce temperature for lagers without constant monitoring, saving time and ensuring consistent results. These features are just the beginning! We offer a wide range of automation solutions to fit your needs, and our team can design custom controls to take your brewing or beverage production to the next level. Whether you’re managing a craft brewery or a large-scale beverage operation, we can help optimize your process.

Showroom Overview and System Introduction

Welcome to our Charlotte showroom, featuring our 10-barrel, four-vessel brew house system, paired with a 2.5-barrel pilot system. Today, we’ll walk through the automation features of this system from start to finish, showcasing how our technology simplifies and streamlines brewing operations.


Hot and Cold Liquor Tank Autofills

The hot and cold liquor tanks (HLT and CLT) are equipped with hydrostatic level sensors, ensuring precise water level management. These sensors monitor liquid levels and automatically stop water feed when the desired level is reached. For example, in a 20-barrel HLT for a 10-barrel brew house, you might keep the tank half full during knockouts to prevent overflow when hot water returns from the heat exchanger. The automation adjusts the valve, opening or closing it as needed, to maintain these levels efficiently. This prevents waste and ensures optimal water management.


Full Pneumatic Valve Automation

All valves in this system are pneumatic and controlled via the HLT and CLT flowchart screen. Operators can control pumps and valves directly from the brew deck without moving around the brewery. Each screen provides easy access to specific tanks, including mashing, lautering, kettle whirlpool, and knockout processes. A 15-inch flowchart screen comes standard with pneumatic valve packages, making operations seamless and reducing physical strain.


SPX Blending Valve Automation

The SPX blending valve ensures precise flow and temperature control for mashing and sparging. Operators can set desired temperature and flow rates, such as 155°F at 15 GPM for mashing. The system maintains these parameters automatically, freeing operators to manage other tasks. This automation step is crucial for maintaining consistency and efficiency during brewing.


Lauter Transfer Automation

The lauter transfer automation integrates blending and adds precise flow rate control during sparging and kettle transfer. Operators can set sparge temperature (e.g., 170°F) and flow rate (e.g., 8 GPM) while maintaining consistent lauter flow. Gravity flow initiation and controlled pump activation ensure consistent bed height and sparge efficiency, optimizing equipment performance.


Wort Grant Level Control

Automation in the wort grant ensures a smooth vorlauf process. Using hydrostatic pressure, operators set the desired liquid height, and the system throttles the pump to avoid excessive pulling on the grain bed. This ensures clear wort while protecting the bed’s integrity.


Auto Knockout Automation

The auto knockout automation uses precise control of the whirlpool and knockout pumps to maintain a target temperature during wort cooling. Operators set temperature and flow rate parameters, and the system handles the rest, allowing them to focus on other tasks. This minimizes manual monitoring and enhances efficiency.


Grain Handling Automation

For grain handling, we offer custom solutions with load cells under the grist case, silos, and bulk bag racks. Operators can input exact recipes, and the system mills and transfers the grain accordingly. This allows for simultaneous milling and brewing, saving time and reducing manual intervention. Built-in safeguards prevent clogs and over-amplified mill usage, ensuring smooth operations.


Boilover Sensor

The boilover sensor uses capacitive technology to detect foam or liquid levels, cutting steam to the boil kettle to prevent overboils. This safety feature protects brewers and keeps the platform clean.


Fermentation Controls

Our fermentation controls provide precise temperature gradients, such as dropping lager temperatures from 62°F to 38°F over two weeks. Operators can set and forget these parameters, with logging functions and timer delays enabling planned automation. Remote monitoring further enhances convenience.


Remote Monitoring and HMI Access

The system’s HMI offers full control via VPN on mobile devices or iPads. Operators can adjust tank temperatures, start heating HLTs or CLTs, and monitor processes remotely. Safety restrictions prevent remote operation of moving parts like mash or lauter ton rakes, ensuring a secure environment.


Visit Us

We welcome you to our Charlotte showroom, located just five minutes from the airport, to see these controls in action. You’ll also find us at trade shows like CBC, where you can experience our HMI and automation firsthand. Thanks for watching, and we look forward to seeing you!

What is an automated brewing system, and why is it important?

An automated brewing system integrates technology to control and streamline brewing processes such as water management, temperature regulation, and flow rates. This reduces manual effort, improves consistency, enhances efficiency, and allows brewers to focus on crafting high-quality products.

How does the hot and cold liquor tank automation work?

The hot and cold liquor tank automation uses hydrostatic level sensors to monitor and control water levels. This prevents overflow, minimizes water waste, and ensures optimal water management during the brewing process.

What are the benefits of SPX blending valve automation for brewing?

The SPX blending valve automation precisely controls water temperature and flow rates during mashing and sparging. This ensures consistent brewing results, improves efficiency, and frees up operators to focus on other tasks.

How does the grain handling automation system save time for brewers?

The grain handling automation system uses load cells, bulk bag racks, and silos to mill and transfer grain according to pre-set recipes. This enables brewers to mill grain while brewing, reducing downtime and increasing overall productivity.

What features does the remote monitoring system offer for brewery automation?

The remote monitoring system allows operators to control tank temperatures, start heating processes, and monitor operations via a mobile device or iPad. This convenience saves time, reduces manual intervention, and ensures seamless brewing operations.



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