An intuitive user interface makes a difference, because it allows non-technical users to understand the system without being a computer programmer. Anyone familiar with the brewing process can navigate the interface and quickly be brewing craft beer.
This is industry changing because now, instead of figuring out a complicated system, brewers can do what they do best: create craft beer.
We’ve got a couple of examples of how an efficient brew house control system can help craft brewers gain greater control over processes:
- Full Sail Brewing moved to a more automated brewing system that reduced the cycle time by 50% and increased capacity by 25%. They also decreased water use by one million gallons annually.
- Lakefront Brewery increased first-pass yield and throughput with new filling equipment, increasing production speed by 50 percent. The new filler enabled faster product changeovers.
As the craft brewer market continues to expand – right now we have more than 4,000 craft breweries in the U.S. alone – brewers look at automation to meet growing demand. No longer should automation be seen as the killer of creativity.
Integrating systems like brewing, bottling and packaging on standard process control hardware and software platforms does not affect the craftsmanship required to make a beautiful brew.
In fact, just the opposite – taking the guesswork out of the process gives the brewmaster more time to focus on what’s important: the artistry.
