Context

Four generations of the Thatcher family have been producing cider at Myrtle Farm in Sandford, North Somerset for over 100 years. Thatchers Cider employs more than 200 people and produces more than 70 million pints of cider per year from apples grown in its own orchards.

Despite increased competition from international brewing giants, Thatchers Cider has consistently outperformed the market and grown its market share by offering customers an ‘interesting’ range of ciders that offer an “authentic apple cider experience”.

Thatchers has also been involved in the production of Ribena for nearly 20 years. Every July, all the blackcurrants grown by Ribena in the UK are pressed at Myrtle Farm within 24 hours of harvest.

Requirement

When increased demand prompted a 60% increase in production it became apparent that the current biological treatment system wasn’t capable of handling the increased volumes of high-strength effluent and meeting consent targets. Thatchers Cider began its search for a replacement effluent plant by talking to a number of consultant engineers who recommended a variety of different approaches including plastic media trickling filters.

Thatchers Cider contacted 2H Water Technologies and requested a cost-effective and simple solution.

Solution

Within days of visiting the Myrtle Farm plant, 2H produced a detailed and fully-costed proposal for a BIOdek trickling filter solution with an Equiflo rotary distributor.

Having been awarded the contract, 2H provided Thatchers Cider with a complete service in which process design and consultancy expertise were key components.

2H designed, manufactured and supplied BIOdek structured plastic media, pump systems and motorised drive for the Equiflo rotary distributor and specified and sized tanks which were supplied by Kirks.

2H's industry expertise and consultancy skills came into play in assisting the civil design engineer on planning construction of the trickling filter tower and working with Thatchers Cider's in-house team on integrating the trickling filter solution with the plant’s chemical treatment systems.