“Revolutionary” low energy separator for brewers launched at Drinktec

By Mike Stones

- Last updated on GMT

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Up to 30 per cent less energy consumption is claimed for the new separator platform for beverages launched by Swedish engineering company Alfa Laval at last week’s Drinktec trade fair in Munich, Germany.

The new Brew 2001 eDrive is capable of the electricity savings thanks to what the company describes as a “revolutionary​” drive system. Using new patented drive technology, a direct power transfer operates between the drive shaft and the separator bowl. This means that the transmission system can be significantly smaller without losing power or energy leading to big savings on electricity, claims the company.

Combining the hermetic inlet with the innovative eDrive direct drive system means the new generation of Alfa Laval brewery separators has the lowest energy consumption by far – 30% less than other comparable equipment​,” it said.

Large brewery

  1. The lower energy requirement could lead to annual savings of about €25,000 for a brewery, running at 8,000 hours each year; a typical average for a large brewery. That adds up to savings of €250,000 over the average 10-year service life of a brewery.

Supplied in modular design, the separator platform can be combined with Alfa Laval’s existing bowl sizes. That is said to offer customers independence from old performance values, and reduced downtimes.

In addition to lower energy consumption, the Brew 2001 is capable of significantly longer intervals between services. “No other separator currently on the market can equal the Brew 2001 in terms of the intervals between major service works – 16,000 hours​,” said the company.

Fewer wearing parts

Any required service work can also be carried out more rapidly than with any other comparable products. This is because there are also fewer wearing parts – such as couplings, bearings and seals – that need checking or replacing. This results in lower operating costs and greater processing uptime​,” it said.

Alfa Laval said it developed the separator in response to the brewing industry's need to find ways to use energy in a suitable way.

Meanwhile, earlier this month Alfa Laval Group acquired 90 per cent of the shares in LHE Co. in South Korea. The company, which makes compact plate heat exchangers, had sales of about SEK 750m last year and has 170 employees.

Lars Renström, Alfa Laval’s president and chief executive officer said: “I’m very satisfied that we were able to acquire LHE, a well-managed company with strong presence in South Korea and with a large potential in Asia​.”

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