In order to maximize the freshness of Deep Eddy flavored vodkas, the raw materials and natural ingredients used in production must be kept at ideal temperatures. Summers in Austin, Texas can get up to 105 degrees, so it is imperative that the Buda plant is equipped with space to keep these natural flavors cool. Recently, the team installed a brand-new Flavor Cave, which is an industrial size refrigerator dedicated to storing some of the raw materials used in Deep Eddy flavored vodka production. The Flavor Cave adds 900 square feet of temperature-controlled space, ensuring Deep Eddy flavored vodkas meet all quality standards before shipping to distributors.

Forklift Upgrades

In addition to the installation of the new Flavor Cave, the Buda warehouse recently commissioned five new Jungheinrich forklifts for the warehouse crew. This addition was a key part of Buda’s continuous improvement efforts for several reasons. First, the new forklifts utilize thin lead plate batteries, which is a new type of battery that does not require a maintenance program, holds a charge much longer than the previous forklift batteries, and charges quicker than the previous batteries. Since these batteries do not require regular maintenance, the maintenance plan for the Jungheinrich forklifts is much cheaper than the current plan. Finally, the forklifts themselves charge the batteries when releasing the accelerator or by applying the brake, which means they do not need to be charged as often. This addition to the Buda warehouse is a great illustration of their dedication to continuous improvement and will aid in enhancing employee effectiveness.

Continued Safety Protocols

As COVID-19 persists, our facilities continue protocols to ensure the health and safety of our employees. As in the other Heaven Hill facilities, the Buda plant requires face coverings to be worn by all employees and social distancing protocols are in effect. Plexiglass barriers have been installed along the bottling lines to ensure employees can keep a safe distance from each other. Additionally, shift start times, lunch times, and break times are staggered to ensure there is not cross contamination between bottling lines or shifts. A limited number of people are allowed in each breakroom and health screenings are required for each employee upon arrival at the plant. All plant and safety meetings are conducted with social distancing in mind with three different meetings scheduled to ensure there are not too many people in each meeting at once. Finally, all of the lines are cleaned after each shift and break rooms and bathrooms are cleaned several times per day including after lunch and breaks.