High Flow Water Filtration Saves Costs for a Brewery

A high flow filtration system installed at the John Smith’s brewery in Tadcaster, UK, for pre-RO water filtering duty not only cut maintenance time in half and reduced the cost of consumables compared to the previously used system but increased production capacity by allowing up to 60% higher water flow at a high level of efficiency. According to Brewery Team Leader Vinney Empsall, the new horizontal configuration system was chosen as a technologically advanced ‘roughing filter’ to complement a new Reverse Osmosis water treatment plant for the brewing of Webster’s Yorkshire Bitter and John Smith’s Bitter/Extra Smooth pasteurised and filtered beers amongst other brands brewed by the company. Furthermore, while offering excellent performance characteristics, he quotes a ‘very attractive’ filter change-out cost reduction of about 50% compared to that of the prior multi-round cartridge vessels. At the same time optimum flow rate characteristic has been increased from some 50m2/hr up to a new capability of 80m2/hr. “The system supplied by 3M CUNO has provided significant advantages for us,” says Empsall. “It has ensured we have continued high-efficiency filtration to protect very expensive RO membranes.” “This coupled with cost savings on consumables and the opportunity to accommodate a future increase in water requirements meets all the criteria for the adoption of new technology installation within the Brewery.” Other benefits included reduced cartridge inventory. Control of stock levels is monitored by local distributor John Morfield Ltd, who holds stocks to satisfy periodic filter cartridge change-outs. Empsall concludes: “3M CUNO and John Morfield have provided us with first class service and support throughout the selection, installation and after-sales service process.”