Autoferm

Innovative equipment for the production of wines and beers

Description

The project concerns the design and implementation of innovative equipment for the production of wines and beers. It is a combination of the traditional method and the Martinotti method, and in the winemaking sector, it aims to produce sparkling wines while overcoming the challenges of the two sparkling methods. In the brewing sector, the goal is to obtain clear beers without the use of centrifugation and/or filtration at the end of production.
The new equipment consists of horizontal autoclaves equipped with a collection channel and a handling system that directs the lees toward the channel. The handling system then closes the channel, isolating the lees from the clear product. The beverage can thus be bottled without centrifugation and/or filtration in a second autoclave, resulting in improved product quality, reduced production costs, less use of additives, and shorter processing times.

Result to be enhanced

The present project has demonstrated the validity of the initial concept, which is related to the development of an alternative method that limits or eliminates the operations of filtration and/or centrifugation. In this project, the feasibility and actual benefits associated with the new technique have been assessed.
The innovation does not merely represent an improvement of the processes related to traditional production methods; it stands as an alternative method that enhances both qualitative and productive aspects (cost reductions, operational conditions, and energy savings).
In the wine sector, the new method retains the advantages of the two sparkling wine production methods while simultaneously overcoming the various disadvantages of both.
In the brewing industry, the application of the new system allows the preservation of the production processes while eliminating centrifugation or filtration at the end of primary fermentation operations that represent significant critical issues for the quality of the beer.

Why is it important?

The project is significant for various reasons. Firstly, it involves the development of an innovative production process that not only aims for qualitative and health improvements but is also environmentally friendly, characterized by a lower environmental impact and significant energy and cost savings. Compared to both production methods currently in use, the operations necessary to obtain the finished product with the new technology are fewer and simpler, requiring less equipment, reduced water and electricity consumption, and fewer personnel to carry out the operations.
The wine sector, where the innovative process is applied, is one of the traditional sectors of the local economy and represents one of the highest examples of Piedmontese quality on a global scale. As for the beer industry, there has been a consistent increase in consumption, the emergence of small craft breweries focusing on quality, and growing consumer interest in this type of product.