Bamberg / Nuremberg – The Bamberg-based brewery equipment manufacturer has secured first place in the Peter Henlein Award with its latest innovation, the SCHULZ Wizard, once again demonstrating its innovative strength.

The SCHULZ Wizard, a multifunctional system developed in-house by KASPAR SCHULZ and used, among other applications, for the production of alcohol-free beer and other non-alcoholic beverages, received the award on 31 October during the iENA International Trade Fair for Ideas, Inventions and Innovations in Nuremberg. Johannes Schulz-Hess, Managing Director and owner representing the tenth generation of the family business, personally accepted the award: “This competition once again demonstrates our innovative strength. Out of 37 applications, KASPAR SCHULZ made it through to the final round and ultimately convinced the jury.”

SCHULZ WIZARD: Multifunctional plant technology for small and medium-sized breweries

KASPAR SCHULZ has been offering the SCHULZ Wizard on the market for three years now. This dealcoholisation system features a wide range of additional functions that go far beyond the conventional production of alcohol-free beer. By combining a dealcoholisation unit with modules for water deaeration, carbonation, blending and flash pasteurisation (HTST), this multifunctional system brings together several process engineering capabilities in one flexible plant concept.

“Since its first public presentation at BrauBeviale 2024, the SCHULZ Wizard has received an overwhelmingly positive response from our existing customers and the market as a whole. However, we do not consider the technical development complete and continuously work to further optimise our system. We consistently incorporate new requirements arising from practical applications and aim to provide our customers with a future-proof, versatile and cost-effective solution,” explains Christian Grasser, Head of Technology and Product Manager.

Innovative plant technology made in Bamberg

The SCHULZ Wizard is aimed at companies in the brewing and beverage industry facing the challenge of establishing their own production capabilities for non-alcoholic beverages. Market developments clearly demonstrate the potential of this segment: According to the German Brewers Association (Deutscher Brauer-Bund), the market share of alcohol-free beers and malt beverages stood at just under seven per cent in 2023 and had already reached 9.5 per cent by 2025. Alcohol-free beers have therefore long established themselves as an independent market segment, offering breweries additional opportunities for growth and differentiation.

“Winning the Peter Henlein Award is a special recognition of our innovation efforts and our commitment to advancing the brewing and beverage industry through technology. We want to create solutions not only for major market players but also to open up new opportunities for small and medium-sized breweries. The SCHULZ Wizard embodies exactly this ambition: innovative technology, economic viability and maximum flexibility. We are delighted that the jury has recognised this concept with first place,” says Johannes Schulz-Hess, Managing Director and owner of KASPAR SCHULZ, representing the tenth generation of the family business.

Image credit: Daniel Karmann/iena.de