Technical Session 12: Engineering Session
Roland Folz, VLB-Berlin, Seestr. 13, 13353 Berlin, Germany
ABSTRACT: Studies to investigate the right strategic
behavior for breweries to invest into the future under the premises of
performance and technological behavior and their quality impact have
been carried out. Trials were performed in pilot scale as well as in
industrial applications. Results for different approaches that can be
considered as cutting-edge technology will be presented, and different
concepts of how brewing can change will be discussed. On the
organizational level this includes the application of lean manufacturing
and the calculation of overall process times compared to value added
time in the different production steps, while at the same time being
able to keep a necessary flexibility over the supply chain. The planning
of future green fields will include technology that is not yet fully
proven; presented small scale results can provide direction.
Sustainability considerations will include alternative energy usage and
reduction of solid waste. Results will be presented for new technology
across production, including continuous production segments, changes in
filtration and stabilization, packaging in alternative formats, and
process control management. A holistic view will be created of current
innovations, as well as possibilities that can have an impact on future
brewing in order to help brand owners decide on new possibilities based
on independent technological results.
Roland Folz apprenticed
as a brewer and maltster at the Beck’s Brewery in Bremen, Germany. After
working another year for the Beck’s Brewery, he started his studies in
Berlin and received a diploma engineer degree in brewing technology from
the Technical University, Berlin. After graduation, he was head of the
Technical Department/Production at the Preussen Pils Brewery in
Pritzwalk, Germany, for two years. In October 2006, he started at
VLB-Berlin as a global consultant for brewing and beverage technology,
working in the Engineering and Packaging Department as the specialist
for the Filling Department, where he performed his Ph.D. research in
beer in PET. With regard to his consulting practice, he is involved in
teaching and research projects and the internationalization of VLB.
Since autumn 2008, Roland has been head of the Department of Brewing
& Beverage Technology and Applications at VLB-Berlin. This
department includes the education and teaching programs of VLB, as well
as the research activities regarding technological topics, global
consulting, analytics, and services. Since 2012, the microbiological
laboratory and research programs of VLB are part of this department.
Since 2010, Roland has also headed the Labotec GmbH, which is a
subsidiary of VLB and is working with laboratory equipment, supplying
turn-key laboratories on a global scale.
