New Technology Gives Distillery Owners a Virtual Experience
The opening of the first legal distillery on the island of Raasay was the latest in a series of projects that underline the technological advancements being made in the distilled spirits sector in the UK and Ireland. As more and more distillers look to launch their own unique spirit, so the pressure is on for those businesses supporting the industry to develop new technologies that will improve efficiencies and cut costs, without reducing quality.
Stirling-based distillery designer, Allen Associates, understands this only too well and over the past few years has worked with distillers to develop 3D models of their sites and proposed projects. The Tullamore Dew Distillery in Ireland benefited from the company’s expertise with the extensive use of 3D modelling helping to create an efficient distillery that also retained a traditional malt distillery feel and character.
Martin Smith, Allen Associates Process Engineering Director.
Recently this has taken another step forward through the introduction of virtual reality (VR). At the 2017 World Distilled Spirits Conference, the Allen Associates team unveiled a system that takes layout designs from the drawing to a 3D walk though, giving designers and clients a true understanding of how the distillery will look and improving process plant layout.
“The reaction has been extremely positive,” says Martin Smith, Allen Associates Process Engineering Director. “We have a number of clients and architects visiting the office to look at past designs of similar distilleries to give them an understanding of what is involved. When the design of their distillery develops they can then do the VR tour to ensure the layout is exactly as they want.”
Martin continues: “The VR system was first used during our work with Raasay, primarily due to the remote nature of the site. During detailed design work the pipework layout became challenging. However, this was overcome by working closely with Garry Fraser at LH stainless and preparing a virtual reality 3D model of the distillery.”
