Keywords
Packaging, Bottling, Crowning, Tube, Gravity Fill
Description
Packaging is often an afterthought. In the context of producing beer, some say that it is not as "romantic" or appealing as the magic of the brewing process and the mysteries of fermentation.
That said, however, there is no denying that the results of all that work can easily vanish if the finished product is not handled properly while filling bottles or cans.
While this lecture focuses on bottle filling, several principles are also valid for can filling. The latter is discussed in an upcoming lecture.
The content expert explains the various principles or key aspects in the operation of a beer filler, and how to assess finished package quality not only while measuring air and total packaged oxygen levels but also by evaluating the crowning operation.
Learning Objectives
- Describe what a gravity fill is
- Explain the difference between Ring bowl and Center bowl fillers
- Explain how long tube and short tube fillers operate
- Explain how Pre-evacuation works and why it is used
- Describe how filler’s Airs, Crowning, and Capping quality is monitored
- Explain the international fill tolerance expectations for beer
Lecture developed by
Tom Rutledge
Tom started his career in plant operations at Labatt Breweries, where he trained for several years in brewing, packaging, maintenance and quality. He moved to Labatt’s Engineering department as a project manager, and then specialized in product development as a Packaging Development Engineer.
Tom has worked for many years with material suppliers and packaging equipment manufacturers to develop new packages and improve the quality of the existing ones. He holds several patents on packaging and packaging equipment, and even has one in brewing.
Tom was one of the original 4 industry committee members that established the bottle design and technical agreement for the Canadian beer industry standard mold bottle. Tom chaired the technical committee that governed this agreement for many years, and he still helps audit new suppliers of the bottle.
With InterBrew Tom became the Global Technical Services Coordinator for packaging, and then became the North American Manager of Packaging, Cooling & Dispense Equipment Development for InBev. Tom is now retired but consults part time within the exciting world of beer packaging.
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