KHS Till, the German-based supplier of processing solutions for the beverage industry, has supplied Anheuser-Busch with a turn-key keg racking solution for its Jacksonville, Florida site in the US.
This line is capable of processing 500 kegs per hour and is equipped with a variety of extras. Among the features integrated in the line is intelligent robot-controlled depalletising. Exceptionally flexible reaction is made possible by a camera system that monitors exact keg pickup.
The depalletising equipment reacts accordingly should the formation of the supplied layers not be up to par. Uninterrupted racking line operation is assured. Another advantage of the system is that it can be pre-programmed for flexibility.
Special features include an ice keg scale. During cold winters, it is possible that any ullage contained in the kegs will freeze. After the ice keg scale detects frozen beer, the respective kegs are rejected to special treatment and then channelled back in for further processing.
The keg washing and racking equipment used an Innokeg Contikeg keg washer and an Innokeg Contikeg racker. The keg washer is equipped with 32 washing stations; the racker operates with 12 of out 16 possible filling heads. The racking capacity can be expanded quickly to increase the output as required.
Both the Contikeg racker and the Innokeg Contikeg keg washer are equipped with an automatic reject system to return flawed and/or defective kegs.
With the new keg racking technology from KHS Till, Anheuser-Busch believed it is well prepared for increased productivity in its draft beer sector. For further information on KHS product lines, please email the company.