New canning line, enhanced services for the beverage industry, open at research lab
Designed to support the beverage industry with research and development, the BC Beverage Technology Access Centre (BC BTAC) at () has completed a $1.2-million renovation, adding even more services available to the beverage industry throughout the Okanagan Valley and the province.
A new beverage canning line is open at ’s Penticton campus, providing the beverage industry with opportunities to experiment with small batch beverage innovation. The line is in addition to other testing services provided at BC BTAC, where lab technicians work with industry across the lifecycle of their product, from idea to first batch with a multi-disciplinary approach designed to help get the beverage to market.
The centre is one of four Technology Access Centres in B.C. and the only one that is working specifically to help businesses in the beverage sector solve problems.
“This renovation at the BC Beverage Technology Access Centre at will bring innovation and sustainable solutions to a sector that plays a vital role in our province,” said Jessie Sunner, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. “By connecting the expertise and resources of our post-secondary institutions, we support research that helps businesses grow and strengthens B.C.’s economy”
“The BC BTAC has played a key role in helping our province's beverage industry grow and innovate sustainably, and this renovation will provide even greater support for producers to succeed," said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth. "This project perfectly demonstrates what the BC Knowledge Development Fund is all about: creating new opportunities, strengthening our economy, and establishing B.C. as a global innovation leader by investing in research and development infrastructure.”
The renovations at BC BTAC were jointly funded by the BC Knowledge Development Fund and the Canada Foundation for Innovation, which both provided $638,226. BC BTAC is open and available to support anyone working in the beverage sector and is part of the College’s long term strategy to provide relevant training and support for the food, beverage and tourism sector, a vital part of B.C.’s economy.
“We’re so excited to be able to provide more services to industries that need support right here in the Okanagan and Shuswap regions, as well as across the province, through our Technology Access Centre,” said Provost and Vice President Academic Sam Lenci. “Our teams are here to help the beverage sector through this incredible research and innovation facility in Penticton. We continue to look for more ways to support the food, beverage and tourism industries that are so critical to our region and to our entire province.”
The base funding for the BC BTAC is provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and is operationally supported by the BC Ministry of Post Secondary Education and Future Skills and Accelerate Okanagan.
“Our Technology Access Centre can provide a lot of supports to beverage producers right across B.C. and other parts of Canada,” said Dr. Karin Grosstessner-Hain, BC BTAC manager. “These renovations will allow us to increase the ways we support those providers. We have more possibilities to test packaging and liners, and we can help to troubleshoot problems within beverage production.”
Since first being established at the Penticton campus more than five years ago, the BC BTAC has helped many in the industry grow their business while at the same time providing students with hands-on experience as they prepare for a career.
“The beginning of what we've seen with TAC over the last half decade has been instrumental for a nascent industry like ours,” said Tyler Dyck, owner of Okanagan Spirits and the President of the Craft Distillers Guild of B.C. “Having those supports will give us the ability to grow and to develop into the economic driver for the province and for Canada that we should be.”
“To be able to access the science and the research and the students — it's incredible what we can do when we work together with folks like BC BTAC,” said Alexis Esseltine, owner of Tin Whistle Brewing.
To engage with the BC BTAC team and to find a list of their services, go to the BC BTAC homepage.
