Craft Brewery Systems: Drying with efficiency and affordability in mind
At Republic, we are often asked what is needed to effectively dry cans and bottles for craft breweries. Most air knife systems are custom, but over the years we've found enough similarities, specifically from craft breweries, to design standard systems that fit most. Can we still customize a drying system? Of course! But these affordable options provide great results without breaking the bank.

What size cans/bottles can a Craft Brewery System dry?

Republic's Craft Brewery Drying Systems are designed to handle up to 300 cans per minute. The standard systems are sized to fit the following:

Can sizes:

  • 8.5 fl oz (250 ml)
  • 11.2 fl oz (330 ml)
  • 12 fl oz (355 ml)
  • 12.7 oz (375 ml)

Bottle sizes:

  • 7 fl oz (207 ml)
  • 7.1 fl oz (210 ml)
  • 9.6 fl oz (284 ml)
  • 10.1 fl oz (330 ml)
  • 11.2 fl oz (330 ml)
  • 12 fl oz (355 ml)
  • 12.7 fl oz (375 ml)
We can custom size additional speeds and can/bottle sizes; but the above are for our standard craft brewery system offerings.

What's included in a Craft Brewery System?

We created our product offering based on real-world experience and feedback from our craft brewery customers. Their concerns centered around getting the cans/bottles dry without a lot of overhead cost. With "dry" and "affordable" as the end result, we worked backwards to determine the best products to include within our standard systems. Our first question is - how dry is dry? Some people want their cans/bottles totally dry - sides, top, and bottom. Some people are okay with a little moisture, are are mostly concerned with the can/bottle sides. The definition of dry determines how many air knives we include with the system. Most systems include 2-3 air knives for cans, or 2 air knives and a nozzle for bottles. The quantity and size of air knives then determines which blower is used. The more air knives/nozzles used, the more powerful the blower. There is a drying sweet spot which is based on product size, conveyor speed, and the distance of the air knife to the product. All of these factors are considered when selecting the correct blower for the job. So once the air knifes/nozzles and blower is decided, we then provide:
  • the support brackets for the air knives;
  • flexible hose to easily connect the blower to the air knives;
  • connection sleeves and clamps to secure the hose; and
  • y-branch/manifold for the multiple air knives.

Which blower is the right size for my Craft Brewery System?

Republic Air Knife Systems always comprise of either a centrifugal blower or a regenerative blower. We NEVER recommend compressed air for drying. (Check out this video explaining why we do not recommend compressed air.) Our standard Craft Brewery Drying Systems utilize regenerative blowers. They economically provide the pressure and flow needed to effectively dry cans and bottles which are moving up to 300 cans/bottles per minute. Any system moving faster than 300 cans/bottles per minute will probably need a centrifugal blower to be fully effective. Republic Regenerative Blowers are IE3, CE, and UL certified. They can be mounted in almost any position, providing flexibility of placement within the facility. (Need it under the conveyor and out of the way, no problem. Want to mount it sideways on the wall, that's fine, too.) They are good for continuous usage and are generally quiet. They do not require much horsepower. And... regenerative blowers are oil-free and maintenance-free (except filter changes), to boot! We make sure to pipe the blower for pressure with all the necessary filters, check valves and relief valves for a "plug-and-play" solution. General Specifications:
  • Air flow: 50 cfm up to 776 cfm
  • Pressure capacity: 47"H2O to 337" H2O
  • Power: 0.25 hp to 38.9 hp
Republic Centrifugal Blowers are more powerful providing more flow than Regenerative Blowers. These are usually used when the conveyor speed is above 300 cans/bottles per minute. CE certified, they can run at low pressure for increased production speeds when compared to compressed air. Centrifugal blowers are oil-free and require low energy consumption. They do require regular belt and filter changes, and occasional tension pulley and bearing housing replacements; but are very easy to maintain in the field. General Specifications:
  • Air flow: 500 cfm up to 3,100 cfm
  • Pressure capacity: Up to 170"H2O
  • Power: 3 hp to 75 hp
Interested in learning more or having a system sized? Contact our experts. They can discuss the right option for you.