A Dundee company that has developed a product that reduces waste and improves the quality of beer in pubs has received an order from a national chain worth in excess of £600,000.
BeerTech’s FlowMaster units connect to each beer line in licensed premises and produce an electromagnetic charge which greatly delays the lines being coated with a residue of proteins and bacteria.
The improved condition of the beer line means the cleaning cycle can be extended from weekly to every three weeks, saving staffing costs.
BeerTech recently received an order for 10,000 units after one of its major customers took over another chain of pubs.
Jimmy Comerford, who runs the company with his son Stephen, said: “The average pub wastes 25 pints a week for line cleans.
“With our system they can sell more pints a year, as well as saving time cleaning the lines.
“More importantly we improve the quality of the beer.
“Lines are conditioned over a period of time, giving the publican the opportunity to deliver the beer in the condition it leaves the keg.”
The product retails for £99, though the vast majority of customers choose a rental option which includes free equipment, installation, repairs and maintenance. Sales are split evenly between major pub groups and private publicans and BeerTech have their units installed in around 5,000 premises.
The firm has also developed a system to reduce the energy costs of cooling cellars by bringing cold air from outside during winter months to keep the cellar chilled at the required 12 degrees for storing beer kegs.
The 20-year-old Dundee firm is now targeting the international market and has achieved sales in Australia, New Zealand and North America.
Mr Comerford added: “It’s taken a lot of hard work to get to where we are. We see potential for a lot of growth internationally. Longer-term we are looking at the American market into which we have also made significant inroads.”
rmclaren@thecourier.co.uk