Australians really enjoy a good beer - at home barbeques, parties, music concerts, sporting events - in fact, everywhere!
World beer consumption is increasing by more than two per cent a year, a trend that is set to continue. There is an important relationship with beer consumption and demand for its main and critical ingredient - malt.
Malting is the partial germination and kilning of a grain, usually barley. Malt gives varying colour, flavour and body to beer depending on the style of malt being used.
Australia is a key player in the world market representing about 32 per cent of world trade in malting barley and 12% of the world malt trade.
Joe White Maltings, an ABB Grain Ltd company, is Australia's largest malt producer with eight malting plants Australia-wide with a capacity to produce 500,000 tonnes annually.
An expansion at the company's Perth plant in May 2006 saw production capacity more than double from 90,000 tonnes to 200,000 tonnes.
As the largest malting facility in the southern hemisphere, the Perth plant features stainless steel vessels throughout with cylindrico-conical steep vessels, circular germination vessels, a separate circular kiln, full automation and in-place cleaning.
ASSDA member, Stirlings Australia sourced more than 155 tonnes of grade 304 stainless steel with 2B finish from ASSDA Major Sponsor, Outokumpu Stainless for the expansion. Stirlings Australia also used its hi-definition plasma cutting service for processing of material ranging from 2mm to 20mm thick sheets by 1200,1500 and 2000mm wide plates.
The Perth-based global metals distributor also supplied more than $150,000 worth of stainless steel to Built Environs subcontractors for the fabrication of the project.
Press Construction Services were supplied with various grade 304 stainless steel pipe, plate, angle and flats including processing of all plate material for the fabrication of six steep vessels.
ASSDA member, Austline Fabrication of the Foodline Group of Companies was supplied various grade 304 stainless steel sheet, plate and angle for the fabrication of fan ducts and kiln hoods.
From this expansion, Joe White Maltings are able to meet increased demand from producers of most Australian beers and for the major brewers throughout Asia.
This article featured in Australian Stainless Issue 36, Winter 2006.