Seventh Update 👀 🏭

We are excited to share some positive updates with you. In short, if you don’t want to read the full update: 

Production Plan

We’re making significant strides in the right direction. Our verification stages are progressing rapidly, and we’ve collaborated closely with our manufacturing team. As mentioned in the sixth update, we successfully conducted a sample build of the first GEN 3 four weeks ago. The output of this sample build was a few of the first manufactured GEN 3 USA models, capable of all-grain brewing, fermentation, and serving.

Testing Plan

Now that we have more samples, we have completed environmental testing. We have put GEN 3 through its brewing phase and saw how the hardware holds up in various brewing and abnormal phases. Here are a few tests we have done

 

Certification Plan

The UL agency has received the first units for testing purposes, and we’re thrilled to share that we’ve received positive preliminary results. This means the units you’ll receive are deemed safe for all of you. While UL is not mandatory for individual deliveries, we’ve undergone this check upfront to enhance the machine’s robustness.

Our decision to seek UL certification is twofold: It meets the demands of larger retailers and ensures the machine complies with US/Canadian law and household requirements. We prioritise safety and high beer quality above everything else. We’re mindful of the USA’s different rules and voltage standards, and we’re committed to avoiding the mistakes of previous companies.

As mentioned earlier, in the third update, we discovered that ASME certification was required as our vessel is made from stainless steel and more significant than 6 inches. After reading their rule book and multiple conversions, we discovered a way to bypass this requirement.

We are developing a pressure release valve that opens at 15 psi (1 bar). This version will not be in the first units made as development takes longer, but when we ramp up to mass production, there will be an updated pressure relief design.

Assembly Plan

As mentioned in the fifth update, Minibrew has left many units in the warehouse. I want to share the great news that these units are being prepared, and the back-end data will be removed from the server for initializing.

This first version will get the EU growler head and pressure release valve that opens at 36 to 58 PSI (2.5 - 4 bar). This setup is CE-certified and deemed to be safe. We have several users using this equipment in the USA.

The GEN 3 USA version will get a 120V heater, 120V sync motor, UL power cord/plug (with metal frame), Keg UL power adapter, updated PCBA, and a new heat sink.

We are running multiple rising processes. This test checks the function of the pump, 3-way valve, and heater.

Delivery update 

We aim to complete the assembly by the end of August. Following, we’ll conduct a few functional tests before shipping the first units to the USA. We communicated that the shipping timeline would be anywhere between June and September 2024. It looks like (assuming no major challenge arises) we can meet the timeline, even if it’s just before the end of the period. Our team is working hard to realize this timeline. 

What's next!

As the hardware production takes shape and the timeline becomes more apparent, we will put more effort into logistics (we have found a company 🤩) and brew pack production (we are still looking for the right partner). Once more settled, we will increase our presence, support and make software changes in our pro-offering.

We're grateful for your continued patience and belief in the Exobrew. Our support team is ready to assist you with any questions or concerns.