THIELMANN is proud to announce a groundbreaking achievement by the R&D team: the VERTEX keg, the world's first and only keg engineered from duplex stainless steel.
Duplex stainless steel is a family of steels with a microstructure of roughly equal parts austenite and ferrite. This gives them remarkable strength and excellent corrosion resistance, particularly against chloride stress corrosion cracking. Due to their ability to withstand harsh environments, duplex stainless steels are chosen for applications like pipelines, offshore platforms, and desalination plants.
However, due to its rigidity, duplex steel was previously thought impossible to use for smaller-scale applications—until now. By developing a technique to mold duplex stainless steel for very thin weldings, THIELMANN has developed a beverage keg that combines the superior strength of duplex stainless steel with reduced weight and lower environmental impact.
VERTEX demonstrates the ingenuity and dedication of THIELMANN's R&D team and showcases its unwavering commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility.
"We are incredibly proud of our R&D team for achieving this remarkable breakthrough," said Alberto Borque, Chief Operating Officer at THIELMANN. “The VERTEX keg is a testament to their expertise, tenacity, and dedication to creating sustainable solutions for the brewing industry. This keg will redefine industry standards and pave the way for a greener, more efficient future for brewing.”
LCA analysis shows that the VERTEX keg is up to 30% lighter than traditional kegs with up to 30% lower environmental impact, setting a new benchmark for environmental responsibility in the industry. The reduced weight also promotes greater sustainability throughout the supply chain, contributing to significant fuel savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, as well as easier transport and handling.
The human benefits of the keg’s lightweight design have been proven through rigorous testing. According to the Spanish National Institute of Safety and Hygiene at Work (INSHT), the keg’s design reduces the risk of musculoskeletal injuries by at least 10 to 15%.”
Beyond its environmental and ergonomic benefits, VERTEX’s unique duplex stainless steel construction ensures exceptional strength and durability, withstanding the demands of heavy-duty use over a long service life. Furthermore, its lower nickel content provides price stability in an increasingly volatile market, safeguarding breweries against unexpected cost increases and contributing to a more predictable and sustainable business model.
The VERTEX keg also comes with the THIELMANN quality that brewers expect as standard: its fully inert and 100% UV-resistant body guarantees product freshness and flavor integrity, ensuring that every beer poured is as delicious as the brewer intended. And, when it reaches the end of its lifecycle, the VERTEX keg is 100% recyclable, further reducing its environmental footprint and contributing to a circular economy.
This revolutionary product was launched at BrauBeviale, the world's leading trade fair for the beverage industry, this November. If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We can’t wait to share more about this game-changing new solution.