Streamlining and Optimizing Your Brewery Equipment Setup

If you have ever witnessed the arrival of truckloads of equipment at a brewery, you will know that there is an undeniable excitement in the air.

Everyone stands there, filled with anticipation – a mixture of great excitement, impatience, and nerves.

It’s a significant day, akin to Christmas morning. Imagine if Santa parked his enormous sleigh in your garage and made you unwrap all your oversized presents.

And then, of course, everything needs to be taken to its designated place in your brewhouse.

This is a whole different story on its own.

We understand that our customers often feel anxious about this day. It is the culmination of months of hard work. If it is not done correctly, valuable time could be wasted, or worse, people could get injured.

Therefore, taking your time and doing it right is of utmost importance.

As we cannot physically be present at every installation, especially with current travel restrictions, we have prepared a comprehensive checklist and process outline to provide to our clients.

We do everything within our power to ensure that they are prepared for the big day.

With that in mind, we thought it would be beneficial to share it with the world so that everyone can experience the Bespoke difference!

Unloading And Installing Brewery Equipment Checklist

One of my favorite moments in the brewery building process is witnessing the expressions on our clients’ faces when they see their equipment for the first time.

They already know what the pieces look like since they have been involved in designing them for months. However, seeing them in person is a completely different experience.

The general expression on their face usually says, “Oh wow. This just became real.”

Unloading day is undoubtedly exciting, but it can also be challenging. It involves a lot of logistical considerations, especially if you have taken on the challenge of doing it all by yourself.

You can hire a rigging team to handle the unloading for you. They are experienced and knowledgeable, and they will generally take responsibility if any equipment is damaged during the process.

Nevertheless, it is crucial for you to understand what needs to happen once the equipment is off the truck.

The first step in the process begins with one of our favorite things – a checklist! We have compiled a list of everything you need to unpack, relocate, and install the equipment.

Here is the checklist:

2 x fork trucks with fork extensions
2 x pallet jacks
2 x D-shackles
2 x lifting straps rated at at least 3000kg or more
10 x 2-foot wood blocks for supporting the tanks, if needed
1 or 2 x electric drills with HEX and screw set
1 x crowbar
1 x hammer
2 x foam pieces
(Note: For standing the tanks, you can use a crane truck or replace one of the fork trucks with a telescopic fork truck.)

Unloading Brewery Equipment From The Truck

One of the biggest challenges of the day is getting the large pieces of brewery equipment from the truck, which is approximately 1.7 meters high, down to the ground.

You have a couple of options here. One option is to use two fork trucks to slowly pull out and lower the equipment.

In this case, you will need drivers who have a clear plan and understand each person’s role. While the first person pulls the item out, the other person needs to support the back half to prevent it from slipping.

Another option is to use a side loader to lift the entire container off the truck and place it directly on the ground. This way, you can unload the equipment at ground level, minimizing the risk of dropping it.

Once the tanks are standing in their proper positions, you can use a standard pallet jack to move them around by utilizing the horizontal leg supports.

Installing According to Your Brewery Layout

Once your equipment is off the truck and properly positioned, you need to unload the equipment in a specific order to avoid getting stuck.

Take into consideration the size of each item and plan the best way to maneuver them. Fork trucks are great, but you may need fork extensions for wider tanks.

You also need to consider your brewhouse design and which equipment pieces will be located furthest from the entrance. This way, you can move them towards the back with a clear path and fill in the rest from there.

In an ideal scenario, your utilities would have been installed beforehand, but this is not always the case. Regardless, it is crucial to ensure that everything matches the layout. Our detailed drawings exist for a reason.

The cellar is relatively easier, but the brewhouse requires careful connection of various vessels, so they must be placed correctly.