New technology saves energy at SABMiller

Image courtesy of Keerati / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

According to Steve Miller, VP sales & marketing at SurePure, the collaboration between SABMiller and SurePure has resulted in the commercial production of a popular lager brand that incorporates UV technology in the brew house process, yielding product results with double the shelf life of conventionally brewed beer. This is a world first for the brewer.

SABMiller's flavoured alcoholic beverage (FAB) Brewery, situated in the West Rand of Johannesburg, brews eleven FAB products via an ambient brewing process facilitated by UV photopurification, a world first. Research completed indicates that UV processing of FABs in the packaging plant negates the requirement for pasteurisation or preservative addition. These results benefit both brewer and consumer.

Interesting work carried out on beer packaged in clear glass suggests that costly filtration processes can be superseded by the introduction of UV photopurification.

"The company's technology significantly differs from the existing technology being used by SAB and utilises the world's first UV-C photopurification process that can be used on turbid liquids. It uses light instead of heat to purify beer and other brewed products, including finished product, something no other UV technology can accomplish."

Craig Groeneveld, master brewer and chartered scientist, adds, "This is a game-changer in brewing and can help win the race for the reduction in energy and water costs and improvement in quality and throughput. The global brewing implications are enormous, if SurePure finds the resources to exploit them."

Green alternative

SurePure is a global leader in liquid photopurification, the green alternative to pasteurisation and chemicals. Using its patented 'Turbulator' technology, its systems use UV-C light to purify microbiologically sensitive liquids such as wine, fruit juice and milk. Although designed to deliver food-grade solutions, it can also be harnessed to improve processing liquids such as water, brines and sugar syrup solutions, even animal blood plasma. The technology offers greater microbiological efficacy than conventional UV systems and is effective for both clear and turbid liquids, a world first. It offers a greener alternative to comparable heat or chemical-based processes and significant process and energy savings. It also provides opportunities for the development of innovative and differentiated products with desired consumer benefits, guaranteed food safety and sound commercial benefits.

For more information, go to www.surepureinc.com.