The Step-by-Step Process of Designing and Building Custom Beverage Equipment at PRO Engineering

Creating custom beverage equipment requires a meticulous approach, blending innovation, technical precision, and client-specific customization.

At PRO Engineering & Manufacturing Inc., a company with over four decades of experience, the process of designing and building custom beverage equipment—from initial concept to final installation—is a comprehensive journey that ensures quality, reliability, and efficiency.

Here’s a detailed look at how PRO Engineering transforms ideas into fully functional beverage systems.

Step 1: Initial Concept and Client Collaboration

The journey begins with a deep understanding of the client’s needs. Whether the request comes from a small brewery or a large beverage corporation, the team at PRO Engineering listens to the client’s requirements and envisions the solution.

This includes considering factors such as production volume, beverage type (e.g., beer, juice, energy drinks), pasteurization method, and the physical space available for the equipment.

Collaboration is key at this stage. The team ensures that every specification—whether it pertains to tunnel pasteurizers, batch pasteurizers, or cooling systems—is aligned with the client’s production goals. PRO’s extensive knowledge in beverage processing, especially in areas like post-fill pasteurization, is vital in customizing equipment that fits the client’s operational needs (PRO)​(PRO)..

Step 2: Design and Engineering

Once the requirements are clear, the engineering phase begins. PRO Engineering employs a team of skilled engineers who specialize in designing systems tailored to specific client needs. This phase involves selecting the appropriate pasteurization system—tunnel or batch—based on the beverage type and production scale.

Tunnel pasteurizers, for example, are often favored for their efficiency and ability to handle large-scale operations. They function by moving sealed cans or bottles through various heat treatment zones, ensuring the proper microbial control without compromising the quality of the beverage (PRO)​(PRO).

Batch pasteurizers, on the other hand, are ideal for smaller production volumes, using heat chambers to pasteurize batches of products at once (PRO). During the design phase, engineers also integrate automation systems for better control and real-time monitoring, which improves operational efficiency and product safety (PRO).

Step 3: Prototype Development and Testing

PRO Engineering / Manufacturing Inc. design team blueprints custom beverage equipment.

Before proceeding to full-scale production, a prototype is often created. This model allows engineers to test the equipment’s functionality under real-world conditions, simulating the client’s production process.

Testing is crucial for identifying any potential issues, such as temperature inconsistencies or mechanical inefficiencies.

For instance, in pasteurization, temperature control is critical. Too much heat can damage the beverage, while too little might leave harmful microorganisms intact. PRO’s advanced monitoring systems enable precise control of variables like temperature and flow rate, ensuring both safety and product quality ​(PRO).

Step 4: Fabrication and Assembly

Once the design is perfected, the equipment moves into the fabrication phase. PRO Engineering’s fabrication shop uses high-quality materials and advanced manufacturing techniques to build each component of the system. Whether constructing a full-scale tunnel pasteurizer or a compact batch system, the equipment is assembled with attention to durability and longevity, ensuring it can withstand the rigors of daily production ​(PRO).

During this phase, PRO Engineering often re-engineers or retrofits existing equipment for clients who need upgrades rather than brand-new systems. Their experience in rebuilding pasteurizers ensures that older systems are updated to meet modern standards, offering improved energy efficiency and productivity (PRO).

Step 5: Installation and Integration

After fabrication, the equipment is shipped to the client’s facility for installation. PRO Engineering’s team oversees the installation process, ensuring that the equipment is integrated smoothly into the client’s production line.

This involves aligning the system with existing infrastructure and ensuring compatibility with other machinery, such as bottling or canning lines.

During installation, engineers also calibrate the system to the client’s specifications, fine-tuning parameters like temperature zones in tunnel pasteurizers or batch processing times. Once installed, the equipment undergoes final testing to ensure everything is functioning correctly and meets the client’s performance standards (PRO).

Step 6: Training and Support

Even after installation, the journey doesn’t end. PRO Engineering provides comprehensive training to the client’s staff, ensuring they understand how to operate the new equipment and manage any troubleshooting. This is particularly important for automated systems, where real-time monitoring and adjustments are crucial for maintaining optimal production.

Additionally, PRO Engineering offers ongoing maintenance and support services, helping clients to keep their systems in peak condition. This proactive approach helps minimize downtime and ensures the equipment continues to operate efficiently over time (PRO).

Frequently Asked Question

  • What Are the 5 Stages of the Engineering Design Process?

To design effectively, you start by defining the problem, then research, specify requirements, brainstorm solutions, and finally choose the best one. These stages guide engineers from problem-solving to creating innovative solutions through a structured process.

 Conclusion: A Commitment to Quality and Innovation

The process of designing and building custom beverage equipment at PRO Engineering is a step-by-step journey rooted in collaboration, precision, and innovation.

From the initial concept to final installation, the team at PRO ensures that each system is tailored to meet the specific needs of their clients, whether they’re producing beer, juice, energy drinks, or most other beverages.

With over 40 years of expertise, PRO Engineering has become a leader in the industry, constantly advancing their technology to provide solutions that extend shelf life, enhance safety, and preserve product quality ​(PRO)​(PRO). This dedication to excellence ensures that their custom beverage equipment not only meets but exceeds client expectations, from concept to creation.

For more information on how PRO Engineering / Manufacturing Inc. can improve your business and profits, call today at 414-362-1500 or visit their website at PRO Engineering / Manufacturing Inc.

ABOUT PRO ENGINEERING / MANUFACTURING INC.

Trusted | Knowledge | Quality

We have been involved in pasteurizers since 1977.

PRO Engineering / Manufacturing Inc. has developed a range of small, medium, and large-sized tunnel & batch pasteurizers to fit the needs of BrewMasters and Beverage Makers. When our customers asked for more compact as well as full-size tunnel pasteurizers, PRO developed models to fit our customers’ needs. Then our customers needed a batch pasteurizer. We now provide batch pasteurizers; PRO is a business that continually innovates to meet customer needs.

For more than 40 years, we have been delivering solutions for beverage product shelf stability and consumption safety.

Edward A. Michalski CEO

Ed Michalski started his career in the beverage industry by designing stainless steel, higher flow, spray headers for Pabst Brewing. Along with the header design he also developed a process to produce the new headers.

Ed, along with his brother David, formed PRO Engineering / Manufacturing Inc. Based on what they learned by re-designing and refurbishing other manufacturers’ pasteurizers, Ed and PRO started to offer the pasteurizer marketplace superior new pasteurizers. PRO Engineering / Manufacturing Inc. has been designing and manufacturing great pasteurizers for over four decades.

For more information on tunnel and batch pasteurization contact PRO Engineering / Manufacturing, Inc. at [email protected] or call (414) 362-1500 and ask for Ed Michalski, CEO.

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