This project will develop a solution to enable micro-adjustments to the fermentation process at a local distillery.
Project Dates: July 6, 2020 - July 5, 2021
Funding Amount: $25,000
Project Summary
NIC’s electronics and industrial automation instructor, Cory Batch worked with Comox Valley’s Wayward Distillery in order to build and develop a method of continuous and automated ferment testing and micro-adjusting to replace the current system of daily testing and adjustments.
This innovative research project, funded by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Engage grant, will help Wayward to add efficiencies to their production process. The next steps in this project are to take the prototype into trials in the distillery.
Research Team
Cory Batch, Electronics Instructor
Cory has been an instructor at NIC for 16 years. Cory is a graduate of NIC's Industrial Automation program and is certified in residential, commercial and industrial electrical and instrumentation. Cory has worked in the mining, food and beverage, pulp and paper industries, as well as working with BC Hydro, Delta Port Terminals and Westshore Terminals. He has additional certifications in home automation, networking, lighting control, powered blinds, cameras, security and HVAC.
Laura Carbonell, Head Distiller, Wayward Distillery
Born and raised in Calgary, head distiller Laura Carbonell, originally came to Comox to be an extra set of hands and assist Wayward Distillery with fermentation. However, by the time her family was supposed to leave, the distillery had grown so much that Laura was offered a permanent position - one she couldn’t refuse.
In her role, Laura looks after all aspects of production, starting with raw ingredients (honey, fruit or wheat), fermentation, distillation, recipe development with Shea, filtering, and packaging the spirits. She also manages the production schedule, operations and maintenance of the distilling chambers.
Partners
