Partnering Alliances Froth Up Market
SAB has implemented important strategic partnering alliances over the years with key suppliers of materials, equipment and services that have been to the mutual benefit of all parties. An example of this strategy is the collaboration between SAB and Sassda, along with a South African stainless steel mill and fabricators.
In the 1980’s, SAB embarked on a major expansion programme of its breweries with replacements of equipment that had been in operation at full capacity for many years through the construction of some of the largest greenfield breweries in the world. This required the fabrication of key brewing equipment and, in some cases, the replacement of plant that had deteriorated beyond repair.
Over a period of three years, a team consisting of SAB, Sassda and its affiliates, scientists from Witwatersrand University and Mintek and overseas brewing plant suppliers, studied the implication of fabricating the equipment in South Africa. A comprehensive programme was put in place, and local fabrication of complete stainless process plant started in 1986, with steel processed by Middelburg Steel and Alloys in Middelburg. This technology has been used extensively over the last decade-and-a-half in South Africa.
Ongoing strategy
As part of this ongoing partnering strategy, a research project was started in March 2000 in collaboration with the engineering faculty of Rand Afrikaans University, SAB, Sassda and Columbus Stainless. This research is focused on the cleanability of different stainless steel surfaces in the brewing process. The critical factors that contribute to the highest hygiene standards required in the international food and beverage industry are being researched.
The methods used to measure the surfaces consist of two-dimensional profilometric techniques, three-dimensional microscopy and a replicating technique, developed by Struers, that gives exact fingerprints of the surface finishes. The technique of ATP bioluminescence, developed by Biotrace, is also used within this research to assess the effectiveness of differing cleaning regimes and agents. This technique is aligned with the recommendations made by the WHO and FDA for HACCP programmes in the food and beverage industry.
Experimental vessel
Together with its member companies, Sassda has been extensively involved in the development, fabrication and testing of the experimental vessel valued at R250 000. All the necessary materials and components have been sourced and donated by the stainless industry, as are the laboratory services of Columbus.
The vessel, which was fabricated and sponsored by Edelfab, comprises four different surface finishes, namely cold-rolled 2B, 120 and 240 grit and electropolished, each of which was applied to one quadrant of vessel shell that was supplied by Columbus. The bottom cone is electropolished and the top dome has two different surfaces.
The RAU-SAB research stainless fermenting vessel has been installed at the SAB Training Institute, Kyalami. The research team from SAB, Columbus and RAU are working closely to evaluate the stainless surfaces after each brew produced at the SAB Training Institute brewery. The vessel is being subjected to a research programme to assess the cleanability of the surfaces using cleaning regimes with the latest products from Ecolab, an internationally-reputed company in the field.
Research results
The results of the research, which forms part of a Masters degree programme, will be completed by the end of 2001. The vessel will continue to be monitored on a regular basis over a number of years to assess any change in the surface finishes and the resulting cleanability. This research work was first presented at the Institute of Brewing, Africa Section, 8th Convention held at Sun City, Pilaster, in March 2001 and published in the proceedings of the convention.
