Emerson and Belgian unis prepare next generation of brewers

Emerson has announced it is partnering with Ghent University (UGent) and University College Ghent (HOGENT) in Belgium to revamp, automate and modernise a pilot brewery, including providing equipment and support services. The two institutions share a common brewery research group in the Laboratory for Brewing and Fermentation Science and Technology. The laboratory offers hands-on training using the latest digital automation technologies to educate the next-generation workforce, close skills gaps and enable digital transformation throughout the region’s brewing industry, where technology is key to keeping pace with the increasing demand for craft beer.

The project further expands Emerson’s initiative to collaborate with higher education institutions and its commitment with both schools to build a globally competitive craft brewing and brewing industry in Flanders, Belgium and throughout Europe. The students and stakeholders in the region will have access to advanced automation technologies and fermentation sciences expertise, helping build a highly skilled workforce.

The newly upgraded pilot brewery, located within the laboratory, will attract and train students, academics and engineering professionals on how to use next-generation automation technologies in a safe, interactive learning environment.

“We are focused on helping train the digital workforce of the future while advancing education, innovation and diversity in the brewing industry,” said Roel Van Doren, President of Europe for Emerson’s Automation Solutions business. “We look forward to a strong and continued partnership with UGent and HOGENT.”

Once completed, the centre will feature elements of Emerson’s Plantweb digital range of IIoT technologies used in brewing automation: a DeltaV distributed control system, Micro Motion Coriolis flow meters, Rosemount wireless measurement technology, Fisher control valves, and analytics software for calculating conductivity, pH and turbidity, as well as a remote diagnostics that will allow technicians to monitor the system from Emerson’s Belgium office in Diegem, 70 km away.

UGent and HOGENT are two of more than 350 institutions worldwide, from technical community colleges to four-year university programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, that Emerson has partnered with to address the skills gap in digital automation technologies. Emerson said it is dedicated to advancing education, innovation and diversity by collaborating with both industry and educational institutions.

Image: In the Laboratory for Brewing and Fermentation Science and Technology, students and researchers can conduct tests in the pilot brewery utilising different instruments for typical brewing analyses. Photo ©Layla Aerts.