After taking a tour, Dell employees develop automation system for Framingham brewer
Photo | Courtesy of Exhibit 'A'
Exhibit 'A' Brewing Co. in Framingham
Following a coincidental encounter, Exhibit ‘A’ Brewing Co. in Framingham has partnered with Dell Technologies Inc. to help the brewery monitor its fermentation remotely, which saves the brewery money and helps lessen the burden on its employees, who often had the stay on hand to watch the beer as it fermented.
“With this partnership, Exhibit ‘A’ is taking a massive leap in our sustainability mission, reducing beer waste and cutting costs throughout several production components,” Matthew Steinberg, co-founder and head brewer at Exhibit 'A' Brewing Company, said in an email.
Breweries need to watch the fermentation process of their beers because during that period the flavor and aroma is established and any significant changes in temperature can affect what happens in the tanks. For craft breweries like Exhibit ‘A’, this means staff have to stay late or sometimes sleep at the brewery to ensure the pressure in the tanks and the fermentation temperature are in alignment with what the beer needs. If a beer gets too warm or cool during fermentation, it goes to waste as it won’t meet the standards of the brewery or the drinker when packaged.
The issue came up while Boston-based employees of Texas-based Dell were on an off-site retreat at Exhibit ‘A’ and taking a tour of the Framingham brewery. Dell’s employees began to problem-solve and came up with a solution for the brewery.
The solution Dell developed for Exhibit 'A' automates monitoring and allows it to be done remotely. According to the brewery, error reduction saves the brewery about $20,000 a year in production costs. It’s done by using the Dell Edge Gateway with 5G radio, which connects and analyzes wired and wireless devices and systems. Dell Rugged tablets and the system notifies brewers before beer gets too hot or cold.
Exhibit ‘A’ did not comment on how much the new system has and will cost when it is completed.
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