PEF for Malting, Beer and Cider

Enhance malting efficiency and extend shelf life, while improving taste, colour, and quality — with PEF for beer and cider

Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) technology offers a low-energy, non-thermal solution to enhance malting and brewing processes. By applying rapid, targeted electrical pulses, PEF permeabilises cell membranes in barley, improving water uptake, accelerating germination, and increasing extract yield.

Better Malt, Faster — with Elea PEF

By opening barley cell membranes with precision, PEF boosts hydration and enzyme access — cutting germination time, improving malt quality, and reducing β-glucans from the start.

A hand holding a handful of barley grains with a blurred background.

Higher malt quality

PEF enhances malt quality, allowing for the use of lower-quality barley without compromising results.

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Faster germination

PEF accelerates the germination stage, resulting in increased malt production and cost savings.

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Reduce β-glucan concentration

PEF effectively reduces β-glucan concentration in the malt, indicating that the enzymatic breakdown process has been carried out efficiently.

Longer-Lasting, Better-Tasting Beer

PEF preserves freshness and flavour while cutting energy use — a non-thermal process that extends shelf life without compromising quality.

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Extend shelf life

PEF treatment offers a gentle and precise way to inactivate microorganisms, preserving the freshness of beer and cider while using significantly less heat than traditional pasteurization.

A person is pouring beer from a tap into a glass.

Better quality control

PEF extends the shelf life of beer without sacrificing quality, unlike higher temperature processing methods.  

A row of five glasses filled with different types of beer, ranging from dark to light, on a wooden surface.

Potential energy savings

Because PEF operates at lower temperatures, it is energy-efficient and offers significant cost savings. 

How PEF Works for Beer and Malt

Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) is a non-thermal processing technology that applies high-voltage, microsecond-scale pulses to biological material. In malting, PEF induces electroporation—the reversible formation of nanopores in cell membranes—thereby enhancing transmembrane transport and accelerating critical mass transfer processes within the barley endosperm.

Industrial Elea PEF Pipe machine with control panel and pipe connections inside.

Improved Malt Modification
PEF significantly enhances the diffusion of water, oxygen, and metabolic substrates within the barley kernel. This supports more uniform and controlled germination by facilitating enzymatic activity, particularly the hydrolysis of starches and proteins. The improved internal mass transfer allows for efficient modification even in less optimal barley lots, expanding raw material flexibility.

Accelerated Germination Kinetics
By increasing membrane and husk permeability, PEF enables faster hydration and oxygenation, leading to earlier and more synchronised germination onset. This reduction in lag time decreases overall germination duration, allowing for shorter malting cycles and increased process throughput without compromising quality.

β-Glucan Degradation
PEF enhances the bioavailability and activity of endogenous β-glucanases, improving the breakdown of cell wall β-glucans. Lower β-glucan concentrations in the finished malt result in reduced wort viscosity, faster lautering, and improved beer filterability, clarity, and colloidal stability.

Conclusion
Through controlled electroporation, PEF alters the microstructure of barley at the cellular level. This promotes faster and more efficient malt production, optimises enzymatic interactions, and improves final product quality—offering a scalable, energy-efficient, and innovative tool for modern brewhouses.

Find the right Elea PEF Advantage Pipe system for your malt & beer production 

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Elea PEF Advantage P e systems are designed to extract more value from your product.

PEF Advantage P 1 e

  • Our most compact PEF extraction solution, easy to integrate, operate and maintain.

  • The P 1 e offers full control over your processing capacity, handling up to 15 t/h, depending on the process parameters.

Industrial Elea PEF extraction machine with control panel and a monitor showing mechanical parts.

PEF Advantage P 10-100 e

  • The PEF Advantage P 10 e & 100 e are designed to be easily and fully integrated into your existing production line with minimal disruption.

  • The PEF Advantage P 10 e can process up to 25 t/h, while the PEF Advantage P 100 e handles up to 40 t/h, both depending on the process parameters.

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PEF Advantage P 1000 e

  • The PEF Advantage P 1000 e, Elea’s highest-capacity extraction system, is designed for large-scale production and offers easy installation and maintenance.

  • The PEF Advantage P 1000 e can handle capacities of up to 70 t/h, depending on the process parameters.

Elea PEF Advantage Pipe I and e systems treat both liquid and semi-liquid food. All Elea PEF Advantage Pipe inactivation systems comply with HACCP requirements and are CIP and SIP ready.

Elea PEFPilot for laboratory or industrial purpose made of stainless steel with a small display screen, control buttons, and a glass window on the front.

PEF Advantage P 1 i

  • Our most compact PEF inactivation solution, easy to integrate, operate and maintain.

  • The P 1 i offers full control over your processing capacity, handling up to 500 l/h, depending on the process parameters.

Industrial processing machines, one closed with buttons and a small screen, the other open showing internal components.

PEF Advantage P 10-100 i

  • The PEF Advantage P 10 i & 100 i are designed to be easily and fully integrated into your existing production line with minimal disruption.

  • The PEF Advantage P 10 i can process up to 1.800 l/h, while the PEF Advantage P 100 i handles up to 2.500 l/h, both depending on the process parameters.

Industrial machinery for food processing, featuring large metal cabinets with a control panel, branded as Elea, used for processing foods using pulsed electric fields.

PEF Advantage P 1000 i

  • The PEF Advantage P 1000 i, Elea’s highest-capacity inactivation system, is designed for large-scale production and offers easy installation and maintenance.

  • The PEF Advantage P 1000 i can handle capacities of up to 5000 l/h, depending on the process parameters.

Every Elea PEF Advantage systems share the same 24/7 production capability and are built to operate under extreme conditions.

PEF solutions, customer care and support

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Built for you

Each of our systems are customisable to your requirements. From your initial brief to final installation, we quickly get your new PEF system working perfectly for your product.

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Application support

Our experts can work with you to test the effectiveness of our PEF systems for your requirement, either in-house at our specially designed PEF pilot hall or on-site at your production line.

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Technical care & support

We offer a full 24-hour support service worldwide. Our specialist installation and training teams work closely with our clients to ensure our systems' smooth, swift, and successful commissioning.

The Elea Beer & Malting Team

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    Marc Schmidt

    R&D Engineer

  • Man with glasses and mustache, wearing a black blazer over a white shirt, smiling at the camera with a whiteboard in the background.

    Johannes Pfeiffer

    Sales Manager

  • Sofie Schröder

    Biotechnologist 

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    Dr. Claudia Siemer

    Strategic / Research Coordination Manager

Niedersachsenstraße 5, D-49610 Quakenbrück, Germany

Hours
Monday–Friday
8.00–17.00

Phone
+49 (0) 5431 92629 70