1. Step One – Project Brief & Application Analysis

Everything starts from your process, not from our stock list.

We ask a few key questions:

• What are you producing? (beer, kombucha, spirits, wine, RTD, etc.)

• Current and target capacity? (HL per batch, per month, per year)

• Existing equipment on site? (brewhouse size, cellar volume, packaging)

• Space, utilities and local standards? (power, steam, water, drainage, safety rules)

• Investment range, timeline and expansion plan?

Based on these answers, our engineering team identifies:

• Which process steps can be safely covered by used / refurbished equipment

• Which steps should be new or upgraded (especially safety, hygiene, control and precision areas)

• Whether a hybrid new + used solution will give you the best balance of cost, reliability and future expansion

Only after that, we start matching you with suitable used tanks, brewhouses or lines in our program.

2. Step Two – Initial Selection & Incoming Inspection

Every tank or system entering Micet’s used equipment program goes through a structured incoming inspection. We never ship “as-found” equipment directly to you.

For each unit we check:

• Basic identity

  • Manufacturer, model, year (when available)

  • Previous application (beer, wine, dairy, soft drinks, etc.)

  • Geometric details: volume, cone angle, height, jacket areas

• Mechanical condition

  • Shell, cone and top head for dents, corrosion or damage

  • Weld seams and nozzle connections

  • Legs, frames, platforms and supports

• Pressure & safety (where applicable)

  • Design pressure and previous working pressure

  • Jacket design and maximum test pressure

  • Condition of safety valves, pressure gauges, vents, PRVs

• Internal surfaces

  • Sample of internal welds and surface finish

  • Signs of pitting, rust, product build-up or improper CIP

  • Existing internal accessories (CIP spray ball, temp wells, sample valves)

• Utilities & connections

  • Type and size of inlets/outlets, fittings (tri-clamp, DIN, SMS, etc.)

  • Existing jackets, cooling/heating zones, sensor ports

  • Motors, agitators, pumps and control devices (if included)

Each unit is then graded and assigned a suitable refurbishment scope. Tanks or equipment that do not pass our minimum standards are simply rejected from the program, not resold.

3. Step Three – Defining the Refurbishment Scope

Not all projects need the same level of refurbishment.
We design 3–4 typical refurbishment levels depending on your risk profile and budget:

3.1 “Clean & Verified” Level

• For low-pressure, low-risk applications (e.g. cold liquor, simple buffer tanks)

• Focus on deep cleaning, descaling and internal passivation

• Replace critical seals, gaskets and low-cost valves where needed

• Perform leak tests and basic functional checks

This is the most economical way to reuse non-critical vessels safely.

3.2 “Standard Refurbished” Level

Most of our used brewery equipment and used fermentation tanks fall into this scope:

• Full internal and external cleaning, mechanical polishing where needed

• Décapage acide et passivation of the internal stainless surfaces

• Replacement of worn or obsolete valves, fittings and gaskets

• Removal or replacement of corroded nozzles and small components

• Pressure and leak tests on tanks and jackets according to design

• Testing of cooling jackets, agitators and key instrumentation

• Repainting or touch-up of carbon steel support structures (where applicable)

This gives you a tank or system that is ready for hygienic production, with a clear understanding of what is used and what is new.

3.3 “Upgraded / Hybrid Level”

For critical process steps (e.g. brewhouse, main fermentation, CIP, packaging), we often propose an upgraded hybrid refurbishment:

• Tank body or frame is reused and refurbished

• New valves, pumps, safety devices and instrumentation are installed

• New controls (PLC, HMI, PID or basic panels) are designed and wired

• Piping is redesigned to suit your layout and process

• CIP connections and cleaning patterns are optimized for your product

This level is typical for:

• Used brewhouses configured with new control panels and pumps

• Used unitanks combinée avec new glycol piping and manifolds

• Used fillers or cappers paired with new conveyors, coders and inspection devices

You still benefit from the price advantage of used stainless steel and frames, but critical parts operate like a new system.