Matt Vincent had long served as Ska Brewing Co.’s engineer when he confronted a problem: How do you get beer cans from the pallet to the conveyor to be filled?
Manufacturers make depalletizers – machines that automatically stack cases of goods or products onto a pallet – for large brewers that process 2,500 cans a minute, cost $150,000 to $200,000 and take up an entire room. That was more machine than Ska needed. So, Vincent built his own, smaller version.
It replaced Ska’s previous system, which involved a guy with a stick sweeping cans onto the conveyor belt.
A visiting delegation from Austin Beerworks saw Vincent’s machine and wanted one of their own. Vincent, who joined Ska in 1996 and soon became a partner, had his first customer for what became Ska Fabricating.
Vincent partnered with Dan Morris, a veteran machinist, to help launch the company. Ska Brewing co-founders Bill Graham and Dave Thibodeau allowed them to use the Ska name.
Ska Fabricating quickly found a ready market among a fast-growing segment of craft brewers who can their beers.
“Response was overwhelming,” Vincent said.
Its customers include craft breweries such as Alaskan Brewing Co. and Lumberyard Brewing in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Ska Fabricating now has 11 employees and is looking to hire two more.
cslothower@durangoherald.com