Brauwelt Nr. 46–47 (2007)
Aseptic keg system for Thurella AG
> First aseptic keg system for Thurella AG, Switzerland [PDF, 89 KB]
Thurella AG is a major beverage manufacturer and dealer in Switzerland, employing around 250 people. In April 2006, Thurella AG was searching for new technological departures in keg filling. The aim was to acquire a cleaning and filling system with the latest technology to fulfil and sustainably optimize the rising demand for keg filling and the high quality demands of the company.
According to Karlheinz Neubacher, Member of the Executive Board of Thurella AG, the requirements made the selection of a supplier by no means easy. “With our variety of products, comprising several fruit juices and pre and post-mix beverages, we had concrete ideas on how our quality demands could be satisfied. Our crystallized plans which had been discussed in detail in team meetings in advance were reflected in the concept proposed by Malek Brautech GmbH from Essen in Germany.”
The firm presented a technology which stood apart from the everyday standard in this field. Together with the general processes in the cleaning and filling system we required, we were especially impressed by the filling head from Malek Brautech. After conclusion of the contract in January 2007, installation took place as planned in May of that year, and the plant was put into service on schedule at the start of June.
“Even in the test phase of the new system, we were surprised by the perfect microbiological results. The constant checks performed by our in-house laboratory all produced no negative findings.”
The system was inspected by the independent Zurich-based laboratory Veritas both for performance and for microbiological quality. The contractual throughput of the system was stated as 180 kegs/h, but during final testing a set throughput of 185 kegs/h was achieved with an efficiency of 97.6 %.
“Together with the good performance test results, we were particularly pleased by the absence of oxygen absorption by the kegged products. No measurable oxygen absorption was found in the kegs which were examined.”
Prime contractor Malek Brautech supplied a complete cleaning and filling system with the following components: mixer, flash pasteurization system, degasser, sterile tank, fully automatic keg system and a CIP system for production and cleaning.