Barriers to implementing process analytical technology in keg cleaning: a multi-stakeholder qualitative study in the brewing industry
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Keg cleaning is essential for hygiene but requires substantial water, energy, and chemicals. Process analytical technology (PAT) could adapt cleaning to actual contamination levels. In adjacent sectors, PAT-based cleaning has demonstrated water savings up to 35% and energy reductions exceeding 50%. However, despite this potential, we identified no documented sensor-based keg cleaning implementation in the literature or among experts, and therefore no comparable savings figures for kegs. To understand this gap, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 14 experts from breweries, OEMs, suppliers and research. The technology-organisation-environment framework served as the principal analytical lens, with transition and collective-action concepts used to interpret how the three domains interact. Our findings reveal a striking paradox. Although PAT-based cleaning is established in adjacent industries, strong cross-stakeholder convergence emerged around four enablers still missing, namely validated pilot projects, transparent sensor concepts to dispel black-box concerns, flexible validation standards, and targeted training to bridge automation and data-analytics gaps. The interviewees located the barriers not in technology but in coordination, validation, and governance across the value chain. Overall, the study suggests non-adoption as a possible coordination lock-in, without claiming a sector-wide mechanism. Thus, it provides a first multistakeholder analysis of barriers to sensor-based keg cleaning.
Authors: Fabian Kost, Peter Burggräf, Alexander Becher, Philipp Nettesheim
Institution: University of Siegen
Language: English
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,860
OpenAlex ID: W7208777700