Many breweries across the Americas and Europe utilize a wide variety of Vortex products in handling key ingredients, such as hops and malt barley, as well as in the handling of brewing by-products, such as spent grain. A Vortex Orifice Gate or Clear Action Gate can be used to positively shut off the material flow of bulk ingredients. Another application would be the use of a Vortex Seal Tite Diverter to direct grains of barley malt from holding tanks into smaller storage bins to feed the mash tuns. In macro- breweries, Wye Line Diverters may be used to convey milled grains from primary storage silos through the mashing process.

July 2004, Victory Brewing Company, based in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, USA, implemented eight

Vortex Roller Gates to further improve their beer brewing process. Each gate was installed on individual barley holding bins with 11 inch (279.4 mm) outlets, serving as an avenue to discharge the barley through a mechanical conveying system and into a hopper for beer batches. Vortex further customized the Roller Gate design to accommodate the customer’s needs by equipping each gate with center valve position open (CVPO) air cylinders and an adjustable threaded rod. Such a design allowed for material quantities to flow through the gate at the operator’s discretion, while also creating a gate which closed faster and sealed, providing more consistency in beer recipes across batches.

Vortex recently completed a project with British-based Simpsons Malt. The company supplies malted barley to the brewing, distilling, and food industries. Vortex’s challenge was to develop a solution that allowed operators to variably control the flow rate of white malt from one silo into two sieves, as well as find a solution to fill grain lorries at 425 cubic meters per hour, while also minimizing dust. To control the flow rates, Vortex utilized a Gravity Vee Diverter with infinite variable controls, allowing the operator total control over material flow rate in either direction. Featuring a dust skirt and a four-cable hoist system, a Vortex Retractable Loading Spout was installed to efficiently load malt into open lorries for transportation to the many breweries across the United Kingdom who rely on Simpsons Malt for high quality ingredients. Now THAT’S a reason to celebrate!

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According to recent figures, more than 5.5 million pints of this dark, Irish dry stout are downed around the world every day. On St. Patrick’s Day, that figure is doubled!

Of course, the pinnacle brew of St. Patrick’s Day is Guinness. Positioned below conveyors, Vortex supplies Roller Gates for the handling of barley at the renowned St. James’ Gate Brewery in Dublin, Ireland.  Founded in 1759 by Arthur Guinness, the brewery still operates and produces more stout than any other brewery in the world.

When it comes to bulk material handling components, the brewing industry doesn’t need the luck of the Irish – they just call us!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

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