Probably not. Most architects mistakenly classify distillation equipment as High Hazard and you, the client, end up pushed into a more restrictive occupancy and needless expensive buildout. We build our machine to be redundantly safe and as Class 1 Div. 2 equipment, it shouldn’t need Ex protection. We’ve talked to Fire Marshals and building officials around the country and we understand how confusing and intimidating the buildout process can be. Let us help. We’re happy to advocate for our equipment and your whole facility to ensure that it can operate safely, and within budget.

As of 2022, current lead time is 6 months from down payment to delivery.

You’ll need less to run a Hot Rod than any other distillery on the market. At minimum, the still requires a heating source (steam), a cooling source (water), a place to put your product and a scale to gauge it. We love getting customers lined out with the right equipment for their site and are happy to talk with you about everything from hydrometers, hoses, and chemicals up to forklifts and tank farms. We’ll tailor a recommended CapEx to your facility at no charge.

The beauty of the Hot Rod is that there is no spent mash to deal with, minimal cleaning, and the cooling water system is non-contact so the only “waste” is clean city/well water. A Hot Rod is steam powered, and the team at Detroit Stillworks will help you spec and design the best steam supply for your still. We most commonly run the equipment with NG fired low pressure boilers, but have set up clients with LP units, high pressure boilers, and even electric steam generators. On the cooling side, our equipment is so efficient that city water works to sufficiently cool the product, even at high output rates. Closed loop cooling is available and we can help tie into an existing glycol system. The brains of the still and its pump run off of a standard 15 amp circuit.

Very few. The only wear and tear items on the Hot Rod are durable, ethanol resistant gaskets and bearings. With regular cleanings and some common sense you won’t need to give your Hot Rod a “tune up” for years. We provide a preventative maintenance schedule with all of our machines and are happy to consult with installation of replacement products. Any wear and tear items are easily user serviceable.

Give us a call, we love talking about these units and how they can transform your business operations. We’d love to facilitate bringing you up to our facilities in Michigan or connecting you with a Hot Rod owner around the country.