Through their continued relationship with the food and drinks industry, packaging manufacturer Standard-Knapp has identified a number of trends within the craft brewing sector. It has also produced several innovative packaging machines to assist manufacturers.
The firm identifies craft brewers using three key behavioural patterns: small in size, independently owned and a focus on traditional beer brewing techniques. It also concludes that craft breweries produce a volume of no greater than 6m barrels of beer every year and says that, further to being independent, they tend to be owned by their brewmaster.
It has developed a number of packaging solutions that it says can assist craft brewers with the distribution of their beers. The EZ Picker is an economical bottle-handling tool engineered for quick and easy handling of glass bottles, capable of processing 12 bottles at a time and speeding up the packing process from fully manual packing.
And the 939 EZ Case Packer is a smaller, more economical version of Standard-Knapp’s high-speed case packers, which is “ideal for craft breweries ready to take the next step in their production and distribution”. It can completely automate the packing process at a rate of between ten and 30 cases per minute, and is designed to run the whole year through. Standard-Knapp’s product line extends to meet greater production needs, including its 989 Packmore model – the world’s fastest – that can comfortably process up to 75 cases per minute.
It offers complete automation at a speed of 10-30 cases per minute. This machine is a workhorse, much like the men and women who run craft breweries, designed to run 24/7, 365 days a year.
It charts what it describes as “a similar trajectory” shared by craft breweries, beginning with homebrewing and continuing through to sale in local bars and brew pubs, distribution in growlers or kegs, and the use of larger breweries’ facilities in the case of very successful craft brewers. Its understanding of the industry allows it to more accurately tailor the service that it provides.
The company said: “Standard-Knapp, a worldwide leader in the manufacture of innovative packaging technology, has recognized the unique packaging needs of craft breweries throughout their growth process. From handheld to automated packaging solutions, Standard-Knapp helps breweries to remain focused on the quality of their products while they grow, increase their offerings, and begin to distribute beer more widely.”
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