Fully Automated Beer Keg Cleaning & Filling Line (120 Kegs/Hour)

Multi-Station Cleaning & Filling Process

The entire process is automated, with an air cylinder-driven platform transferring kegs seamlessly between stations. The duration at each station is adjustable via the HMI.

• Station 1: Preparation - Manual loading of the keg, followed by automatic clamping and positioning.

• Station 2: Caustic Wash 1 - High-temperature alkaline solution wash, followed by recovery and back-flushing.

• Station 3: Caustic Soak - Waiting station allows for extended contact time with alkaline solution for deep cleaning.

• Station 4: Caustic Wash 2 - Second alkaline wash with recovery, forward washing, backwashing, and final recovery.

• Station 5: Hot Water Rinse - Thorough rinsing with hot water, followed by draining and a final hot water back-flush. Rinse water is recycled to the mixed water tank to conserve resources.

• Station 6: Steam Sterilization - High-temperature steam is injected to sterilize the keg, with pressure held to ensure complete sanitation.

• Station 7: Sterilization Hold - Waiting station maintains the keg in a sterile, steam-pressurized state.

• Station 8: Filling - The filling head is sterilized with steam, followed by a CO2 purge to replace oxygen. The keg is counter-pressurized with CO2, then filled with beer. Filling is controlled by a high-precision flowmeter, stopping automatically when the set volume is reached. The filling head is sterilized again post-fill.

• Station 9: Unloading - The clean, filled keg is automatically unloaded from the line.

Key Features & Technical Advantages

• Advanced Automation: The entire line is controlled by a Siemens S7-200 SMART PLC and a 10-inch Siemens color touch screen (HMI). All actions, valve states, and processes are visually displayed for easy monitoring and control.

• Intelligent Quality Control: The system actively monitors pressure, temperature, and residual liquid. If a keg fails to meet the set standards during cleaning, it is flagged as "unqualified" in the system's memory and will not proceed to the filling station, preventing product loss and contamination.

• Precision Flowmeter Filling: Unlike traditional time-based or level-based filling, our system uses a high-accuracy IFM flowmeter to control the filling volume, ensuring exceptional consistency and minimizing waste.

• Resource Efficiency: The system is designed to save resources. Hot water from the final rinse is returned to a mixing tank for reuse, and the alkaline solution is recovered and recycled.

• Robust & Hygienic Construction: The frame, sheet metal, piping, and all fittings are constructed from high-quality 304 stainless steel. Pumps are sourced from leading manufacturers to ensure reliability.

• Comprehensive CIP Functionality: The integrated four-tank system allows for a full, automated Clean-In-Place (CIP) process: Clean Water Rinse -> Hot Alkali Circulation -> Hot Water Rinse -> Acid Circulation -> Hot Water Rinse -> Sterile Water Rinse -> CO2 Evacuation.

Optional: Automatic Weighing & Ejection System

Upgrade your quality assurance with our fully integrated weighing system.

• Process: After filling, kegs are transported via a chain conveyor onto a flat electronic scale.

• Verification: The system compares the keg's actual weight against a pre-set standard.

• Automatic Rejection: If a keg is under or over the acceptable weight range, the control system flags it. An automatic ejection device then pushes the non-compliant keg onto a rejection area, while qualified kegs proceed to the finished product zone.

• Max Weighing Range: 150 kg.

Main Components & Configuration

Our kegging lines are built exclusively with high-quality components from world-renowned manufacturers to guarantee reliability and a long service life.

Required External Utilities

To ensure optimal performance, product quality, and equipment longevity, the following site utilities are required: