Brewery Equipment RFQ Guide: What Manufacturers Need to Engineer the Right System

September 16, 2026

Requesting a quote for brewery equipment sounds simple.

Send the supplier your desired capacity, ask for a system, and compare the proposals.

In practice, that usually is not enough.

A useful RFQ should give the equipment manufacturer enough information to understand not only what equipment you want, but also what you are trying to produce, how you plan to operate, what your facility can support, and what level of automation and project support you expect.

Without that information, two manufacturers may quote systems that look similar on paper but are based on very different assumptions.

That makes price comparisons difficult and increases the chance of scope changes later.

A better RFQ creates a common engineering starting point.

This guide outlines the information breweries and beverage producers should prepare before requesting a quote for a brewhouse, canning line, or other production system.

Why a Good Brewery Equipment RFQ Matters

An RFQ is more than a request for pricing.

It is the beginning of the engineering conversation.

A manufacturer may need to make decisions about:

System capacity
Vessel configuration
Filling technology
Product contact materials
Heating method
Pumps and valves
Controls
Utilities
Cleaning
Conveyors
Integration
Installation
Commissioning
Operator training
Spare parts
Future expansion

If the RFQ does not provide enough production context, the manufacturer has to make assumptions.

Those assumptions may affect:

Equipment selection
Layout
Utility requirements
Automation
Production capability
Scope
Lead time
Final project cost

The goal of a good RFQ is not to provide every engineering detail before speaking with a supplier.

The goal is to provide enough information for the manufacturer to begin engineering the right system.

1. Product Information

Start with what you plan to produce.

This may seem obvious, but product characteristics directly influence equipment design.

Provide information such as:

Beer
Cider
Kombucha
Sparkling water
RTD beverages
Coffee
Juice
Other carbonated beverages
Still beverages

If you produce multiple products, identify all major product categories.

You should also describe important process characteristics where relevant.

For example:

Carbonated or still
Typical carbonation level
Product temperature
Viscosity
Presence of pulp or suspended solids
Sensitive ingredients
Cleaning requirements

Why this matters

A system designed around one beverage may not automatically be the right configuration for another.

For packaging equipment, product characteristics can affect filling method, pressure control, cleaning, and product handling.

For processing equipment, they can influence vessel design, pumps, temperature control, agitation, filtration, and CIP requirements

2. Package and Process Requirements

Next, explain how the product needs to move through the system.

For packaging projects, provide details such as:

Can or bottle type
Container size
Lid or closure type
Number of formats
Labeling method
Date coding
Case packing
Tray packing
PakTech or other secondary packaging
Palletizing requirements

For canning lines , manufacturers may also need to know whether the line must support multiple formats.

For example:

12 oz standard cans
16 oz cans
Sleek cans
Multiple can heights

If different formats will run on the same line, identify the expected changeover requirements.

For a brewhouse or beverage-processing system , describe the process flow.

For example:

Raw material handling
Milling
Mashing
Lautering
Boiling
Whirlpool
Cooling
Fermentation
Storage
Blending
Filtration
Packaging

Why this matters

Manufacturers are not simply sizing individual machines.

They are trying to understand how each part of the system connects to the next.

A missing upstream or downstream requirement can create integration problems even when each individual machine works correctly.

3. Capacity and Production Targets

One of the most important RFQ inputs is production capacity.

But capacity should be described in operating terms rather than only as one headline number.

For a brewhouse, provide:

Desired batch size
Expected batches per day
Production days per week
Annual production target
Current production
Expected future growth

For a canning line, provide:

Desired cans per minute
Current packaging volume
Expected packaging volume
Hours per production day
Production days per week
Number of SKUs
Frequency of changeovers

A brewery requesting a 100 CPM canning line, for example, should also consider whether upstream product supply and downstream packaging can continuously support that speed.

Likewise, specifying a 20 BBL brewhouse does not by itself explain how many turns per day the brewery expects to complete.

Why this matters

Manufacturers need to understand the production objective, not only the equipment rating.

That helps determine whether the proposed equipment is appropriately sized for the brewery's real operating plan.

4. Project Schedule

Your RFQ should include the expected project timeline.

Provide:

Target order date
Desired equipment delivery date
Building readiness date
Installation window
Commissioning target
Desired first production date

If any dates are fixed, identify them clearly.

Examples might include:

Lease commencement
Construction completion
Production launch
Distribution commitment
Seasonal demand
Existing equipment replacement

Why this matters

Equipment manufacturing is only one part of the project schedule.

A complete timeline may also depend on:

Engineering approval
Layout confirmation
Utility preparation
Freight
Rigging
Electrical work
Piping
Refrigeration
Installation
Commissioning
Operator training

Sharing the desired production date allows all parties to work backward from the same target.

5. Facility Information

The equipment manufacturer should understand the environment where the system will operate.

Useful facility information includes:

Building location
Available floor space
Ceiling height
Door dimensions
Floor loading
Drain locations
Existing equipment
Access for rigging
Planned equipment layout

If possible, provide:

Floor plans
Equipment layout drawings
Photos
Utility locations

For renovation projects, explain which systems already exist and which will be added.

Why this matters

A machine that fits the production requirement may still not fit the facility.

Equipment orientation, maintenance access, piping routes, operator access, conveyor direction, and utility connections all depend on the physical environment.

Facility information allows these issues to be addressed before equipment arrives.

6. Utility Information

Utilities should be discussed early.

Depending on the project, manufacturers may need information about:

Electrical power
Voltage
Phase
Frequency
Steam
Natural gas
Water
Hot water
Compressed air
CO₂
Glycol
Drainage
Ventilation
Network access

Do not simply indicate that a utility is available.

Where possible, provide:

Pressure
Flow
Temperature
Capacity
Connection size
Connection location

Why this matters

An available utility is not automatically a suitable utility.

For example, compressed air may exist in the building but not provide the required flow or pressure.

Electrical service may exist but not match the equipment voltage or available load.

Confirming utilities during the RFQ stage reduces redesign and facility modifications later.

7. Controls and Automation Expectations

Automation can mean very different things to different buyers.

Some customers want basic local controls.

Others expect centralized automation, recipe management, production data, remote support, or integration with existing systems.

Your RFQ should identify expectations such as:

PLC control
HMI
Automatic valves
Recipe control
Production monitoring
Alarm history
Remote support
Network connection
Data collection
Integration with existing controls

If your facility has preferred controls brands or standards, include them.

Examples may include preferred:

PLC platforms
HMI platforms
VFD brands
Sensors
Electrical standards

Why this matters

Controls are easier to define during engineering than after equipment is built.

Clear expectations also help ensure that different proposals are based on comparable automation scope.

8. Cleaning and Sanitation Requirements

Cleaning should be part of the equipment discussion from the beginning.

Provide information about:

Existing CIP system
Required CIP coverage
Cleaning chemicals
Cleaning temperatures
Cleaning frequency
Manual versus automatic cleaning
Sanitary standards
Product-change requirements

For some systems, dedicated CIP equipment may be required.

For others, the equipment may need to integrate with an existing brewery CIP system.

Why this matters

Cleaning affects:

Equipment configuration
Valves
Pumps
Spray devices
Controls
Drainage
Operator workload
Production scheduling

A system that performs well during production but is difficult to clean can create operational problems later.

9. Integration Requirements

Most production systems interact with equipment from multiple suppliers.

Identify any systems the new equipment must connect with.

Examples include:

Existing fermenters
Bright beer tanks
Glycol systems
CIP systems
Conveyors
Labelers
Date coders
Packers
Palletizers
Compressors
Boilers
Chillers

For each interface, determine:

What needs to connect
Who supplies the connection
Who installs it
Who controls it
How completion will be tested

Why this matters

Project risk frequently appears between equipment scopes.

A manufacturer may supply one system correctly while another supplier is responsible for the next stage.

The interface between those scopes needs an owner.

https://redwoodstainless.com/blogs/blog/what-makes-brewery-equipment-production-ready

10. Installation and Commissioning Expectations

An RFQ should clearly identify what support you expect after the equipment is manufactured.

Ask suppliers to define whether their scope includes:

Installation guidance
Onsite installation
Controls startup
Utility verification
Dry testing
Water testing
CIP testing
Product testing
Commissioning
Operator training

Also ask:

What must the brewery complete before the commissioning team arrives?

Typical prerequisites may include:

Equipment positioned
Utilities connected
Electrical completed
Product available
Containers available
Operators available
Cleaning completed

Why this matters

Commissioning delays often happen because one party assumes another party will complete a prerequisite.

Defining the commissioning scope during the RFQ process makes project responsibilities much clearer.

11. Training and Support

Equipment support should be evaluated before purchase, not after a problem occurs.

Your RFQ should identify expectations for:

Operator training
Maintenance training
Controls training
Troubleshooting support
Remote support
Onsite support
Spare parts
Documentation

Ask how support works after commissioning.

For example:

Who should operators contact?
What information should be provided when requesting support?
Are remote diagnostics available?
What are the recommended critical spare parts?
How are replacement parts ordered?

Why this matters

Production readiness does not end when the equipment starts running.

The brewery still needs the ability to operate, maintain, and troubleshoot the system over time.

12. Future Expansion

Your RFQ should also explain where the brewery expects to go next.

Consider:

Higher annual production
Additional tanks
Higher packaging speed
New container formats
New beverages
Increased automation
Additional downstream packaging

You do not necessarily need to purchase all future capacity today.

But understanding future plans can influence the current system design.

Why this matters

A small design decision today can either make future expansion easier or create an unnecessary constraint later.

Brewery Equipment RFQ Checklist

Before submitting an equipment RFQ, prepare as much of the following information as possible.

Product

☐ Beverage type
☐ Carbonated or still
☐ Product temperature
☐ Product characteristics
☐ Cleaning requirements

Package / Process

☐ Container type
☐ Container sizes
☐ Closure or lid
☐ Number of formats
☐ Process flow
☐ Upstream equipment
☐ Downstream equipment

Capacity

☐ Batch size or line speed
☐ Daily production target
☐ Weekly production schedule
☐ Annual production target
☐ Expected future growth
☐ Number of SKUs
☐ Changeover frequency

Schedule

☐ Target order date
☐ Required delivery date
☐ Facility readiness date
☐ Installation window
☐ Commissioning target
☐ First production date

Facility

☐ Facility location
☐ Floor plan
☐ Available footprint
☐ Ceiling height
☐ Access dimensions
☐ Drain locations
☐ Existing equipment

Utilities

☐ Electrical
☐ Water
☐ Steam or gas
☐ Compressed air
☐ CO₂
☐ Glycol
☐ Drainage
☐ Ventilation
☐ Network

Controls

☐ PLC requirements
☐ HMI requirements
☐ Automation level
☐ Preferred component brands
☐ Remote-support expectations
☐ Existing-system integration

Project Support

☐ Installation responsibilities
☐ Commissioning scope
☐ Acceptance requirements
☐ Operator training
☐ Documentation
☐ Spare parts
☐ Technical support

An RFQ Does Not Need to Be Perfect

One important point:

You do not need to have every answer before contacting an equipment manufacturer.

For many projects, some requirements are developed together during the engineering process.

The purpose of an RFQ checklist is not to delay the conversation.

It is to make the conversation more productive.

If certain information is still unknown, identify it as TBD rather than allowing an assumption to go unnoticed.

A good manufacturer should be able to help identify which unanswered questions need to be resolved before the system is finalized.

Better RFQs Lead to Better Equipment Conversations

The most useful equipment quote is not necessarily the one produced fastest.

It is the one based on the clearest understanding of the production requirement.

When manufacturers understand your product, process, capacity, schedule, facility, controls, utilities, and support expectations, they can engineer a system around the real project instead of a list of assumptions.

That makes proposals easier to compare and creates a stronger foundation for engineering, installation, commissioning, and startup.

Complete the Brewery Equipment RFQ Checklist

Planning a new brewhouse, canning line, or beverage production system?

Use the checklist above to organize your product, process, capacity, facility, utilities, controls, schedule, and support requirements before requesting a quote.

When you're ready, submit your project information through Redwood's Get a Quote form so our Sales and Engineering teams can review your requirements and discuss the next steps.

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