Author: CASSMAN Publish Time: 2025-09-05 Origin: CASSMAN BEER BREWING EQUIPMENT
Project Title: Engineering a High-Efficiency, PED-Certified 1500L Brewery to Meet Germany's Exacting Standards
Client: "Brauerei Schmidt & Sohn," a respected, family-owned brewery in Franconia, Germany, with a multi-generational history of producing traditional German lagers.
Location: Franconia, Germany
To sell brewing equipment in Germany is to enter the sanctum of beer itself. German brewers, guided by the principles of the Reinheitsgebot (Beer Purity Law) and a culture of engineering excellence, demand the absolute highest standards of quality and performance. "Brauerei Schmidt & Sohn" needed to modernize their aging facility to increase capacity and efficiency, but were deeply skeptical that a non-German manufacturer could deliver a system that would satisfy their master brewer (Braumeister) and pass the rigorous inspection of German authorities.
This project was less a sale and more a series of demanding technical trials. Success required absolute mastery in four key areas:
Passing TÜV Inspection & PED Compliance: This was the paramount challenge. The entire system, especially the steam-heated vessels, had to be designed, manufactured, and documented to flawlessly meet the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED 2014/68/EU). More importantly, it had to pass a final inspection by TÜV SÜD, one of the world's most stringent Notified Bodies, whose approval is a benchmark for quality and safety in Germany.
Mastering Traditional Brewing Processes: The system had to be perfectly equipped to perform multi-step decoction mashing, a traditional German technique critical for developing the rich malt character of their Bock and Märzen beers. This required specific vessel geometry, powerful agitation, and precise temperature control.
Uncompromising Efficiency and Automation: The client expected world-class performance. This meant high extract efficiency from the lauter tun, optimized energy consumption from the steam system, and a reliable automation platform for perfect repeatability. The control system needed to be robust and intuitive for their experienced brewers.
Superior Build Quality and Finish: The standard of welding, polishing, and overall construction had to be visibly on par with Germany's own legendary equipment manufacturers. There was no room for error.
CASSMAN engineered a solution designed not just to meet, but to impress the German client: a 1500L 4-Vessel Steam-Heated Brewhouse that was a masterpiece (Meisterstück) of engineering.
Key System Features:
TÜV SÜD Audited and Certified: CASSMAN proactively engaged TÜV SÜD from the design phase. We provided a complete technical dossier for review, hosted TÜV inspectors at our facility for manufacturing audits, and ensured every component met their exacting standards. The system was delivered with full PED certification, validated by TÜV.
Optimized 4-Vessel Decoction Layout: The system featured a dedicated Mash Kettle, Lauter Tun, Wort Kettle, and Whirlpool. This configuration provided the ultimate flexibility and efficiency, allowing the Braumeister to perform complex decoction mashes while simultaneously starting the next brew, maximizing throughput.
Siemens PLC Automation & Control: To meet the client's demand for reliability and precision, the brewery was equipped with a Siemens S7-1200 PLC system. This provided robust, automated control over the entire brewing process and used a familiar, trusted platform for which local support in Germany is readily available.
"Made in Germany" Critical Components: To further enhance quality and build trust, CASSMAN integrated critical components from top-tier German suppliers, including Hilge pumps and specific valve types, demonstrating a shared commitment to engineering excellence.
Our process was built on transparency, collaboration, and a relentless focus on passing the ultimate test.
Collaborative Engineering with the Braumeister: We held extensive design reviews with the German master brewer, using 3D models to refine every aspect of the system, from the lauter tun rake design to the placement of sight glasses, ensuring it was perfectly tailored to his workflow.
Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) with the Client: We invited the client's team, including the owner and the Braumeister, to our workshop for a comprehensive FAT. They inspected every weld, tested the automation, and ran water trials, verifying the quality firsthand before the equipment was shipped.
Impeccable Documentation: A flawless, bilingual (German/English) technical dossier was prepared, including all material certificates, welding maps, pressure test reports, and the complete TÜV certification package. This ensured a smooth and efficient final inspection on-site.
Professional On-Site Commissioning: CASSMAN engineers traveled to Germany to oversee the final installation and commissioning, working alongside the local team to ensure a perfect start-up and a seamless handover.
The project was a resounding success, completely validating CASSMAN's position as a world-class manufacturer.
Passed TÜV Inspection with Flying Colors: The on-site TÜV inspector reviewed the equipment and the documentation and granted approval without a single non-conformity, a testament to the project's rigorous execution.
Perfect Decoction and Efficiency: On the first brew, the system perfectly executed the brewery's signature double-decoction mash schedule. The lauter tun achieved an extract efficiency of 96%, exceeding the performance of their old system and delighting the Braumeister.
A Converted Skeptic: The owner of "Brauerei Schmidt & Sohn" was thoroughly impressed. He commented, "I will admit, we were skeptical. But CASSMAN proved us wrong. The quality of the engineering, the transparency of the process, and the final result are outstanding. This brewery has the soul of a German engineer. They passed the toughest test: ours."
A New Benchmark: The brewery now stands as a model of modern efficiency rooted in traditional practice, securing the family's legacy for another generation.
The "Brauerei Schmidt & Sohn" project is definitive proof of CASSMAN's ability to compete and succeed at the highest level. By embracing the challenge of Germany's stringent regulatory and quality standards, and by demonstrating an unwavering commitment to precision engineering, we have shown that our equipment belongs in the most demanding breweries in the world.
For breweries where compromise is not an option, CASSMAN delivers German-level quality, certified and proven.
