Adelaide-based refrigeration firm Cold Logic will chill 11 million litres of beer annually for Pirate Life Brewing after inking a $900,000 contract.
As part of the deal Cold Logic will design, supply and install a refrigeration plant at the local craft brewer’s new Port Adelaide location.
The project is the latest in a series of beer industry contracts won by Cold Logic, including Coopers Brewery in Regency Park, and New South Wales-based 4 Pines Brewing Company (Manly) and contract brewing company Brewpack (Goulburn).
Final testing for the Pirate Life project was completed earlier this month before the brewery officially opened on March 9, 2019.
The new $15 million facility will support Pirate Life’s national and international growth and is expected to boost current production to more than 11 million litres per year.
Pirate Life's existing facility in Hindmarsh will stay a designated brewery to focus on innovations such as brewing styles and new products.
The 400kW refrigeration plant – designed and assembled at Cold Logic’s nearby Port Adelaide factory – consists of compressors, plate heat exchanger, evaporative condenser, glycol tank, and all associated pumps, valves and insulated pipe work.
This high performance system will improve efficiency by approximately 30 per cent by reducing the energy required during the brewing and fermenting process.
Cold Logic partner, Eddie Lane, said the process utilises the natural refrigerant ammonia, which has no greenhouse warming potential or impact on the ozone layer.
“Typically refrigeration makes up half of a brewery’s energy use, but the refrigeration system at Pirate Life’s new brewery will deliver long-term cost savings and help secure environmental sustainability, which is key in such a highly-competitive industry,” Lane said.
“Cold Logic has been a trusted supplier to Pirate Life since shortly after the business was established.
“We are proud to be involved in such a significant project for one of Australia’s most successful and respected craft breweries.”
Pirate Life co-founder, Jared Proudfoot, said Cold Logic has played a key role in converting the historic woolshed into a world-class brewery.
“Cold Logic has been an ongoing and valued partner of our brewery, completing a number of upgrades at our Hindmarsh facility to support our ongoing growth,” he said.
“Our new brewery will ensure we can continue increasing production to quench the thirst of beer drinkers locally, interstate and overseas.”
Currently in its 35th year of business, Cold Logic employs 69 staff nationally and has a four-year growth plan to reach an annual turnover of $30 million by 2023.
Lane said the company had diversified its target industries to capitalise on growing markets and help safeguard against downturns.
“The food and beverage industry remains Cold Logic’s key market and our largest source of revenue,” Lane said.
“We have chilled approximately 1.6 billion litres of Australian beer since Cold Logic was founded, which is testament to our expertise and reputation in the sector.
“Our dedicated defence division is going from strength to strength and has allowed us to tap into new market segments, while at the same time, our new cooling tower service division has seen us branch out into market sectors in which we previously had no exposure.”
Other major Cold Logic clients include Thomas Foods International, Arnotts, Aldi and Pernod Ricard Winemakers.