Frequently Asked Questions
Engineering and Manufacturing Consulting FAQ
This beverage engineering FAQ answers what owners actually ask us, from fees to TTB timelines. Straight answers about how Solon works: what to send, what an engagement costs, whether we will work alongside your existing vendors, and where to start when you are not sure what the problem actually is.
Beverage Engineering FAQ Topics
Common Questions
What should I send before contacting Solon?
Send the project type, any current drawings or scope you have, your equipment assumptions, the symptoms you are seeing, your schedule, and the decision you actually need to make. You do not need a polished brief. A photograph of the problem and a paragraph of context is genuinely enough to start.
Does Solon only work with beverage companies?
No. Beverage is the deepest experience, but Solon works across food processing, dairy, nutraceutical, contract manufacturing, general industrial process plants, pharmaceutical and biotech, and federal food service. The common thread is a plant where product is heated, cooled, moved, cleaned, and packaged.
Can Solon work with our existing vendors, contractor, or integrator?
Yes, and this is one of the most common ways Solon is engaged. We hold the owner’s side: clarifying requirements, reviewing scope, supporting testing, and keeping vendors aligned around acceptance criteria everyone has agreed to. Your existing contracts stay in place.
Do you sell equipment or take vendor commissions?
No. Solon does not sell equipment and does not take manufacturer commissions. That is what makes a technical review or a quote review worth paying for.
What does an engagement cost?
It depends entirely on scope, and Solon will tell you the likely range before you commit to anything. Engagements run from a few hours of quote review through a multi-day on-site assessment to full owner-side project management across a construction programme. Small, well-targeted engagements are legitimate and common.
How quickly can you start?
For reviews and assessments, usually within a few weeks. For an urgent startup or a project already in trouble, tell us the date you are working against and we will be straight with you about whether we can help in time.
Do you work outside Texas?
Yes. Solon is based in Austin and works nationally and internationally, including completed projects in Mexico and cross-border installation and commissioning work.
We are not sure whether our problem is process, controls, or equipment. Where do we start?
Start with the symptom, not the category. Describe what the plant is doing wrong and Solon will work out which discipline it belongs to. Misdiagnosis is the single most expensive thing that happens on these projects, and it is usually caused by hiring a specialist before anyone established what was actually broken.
Where to start
If You Would Rather Go Straight to the Right Page
Early facility planning
You have products, a capacity target, a site, and a deadline. Start with the facility planning guide or facility engineering and design.
A cleaning or sanitation problem
You have cycles, symptoms, procedures, and records. Start with cleaning and sanitation review.
A controls or data problem
You have a system, some PLC, HMI or SCADA context, and symptoms. Start with automation and controls.
An equipment decision
You have quotes, specifications, utilities, and exclusions to sort out. Start with equipment specification and procurement.
A line that will not hold rate
You have throughput, utility, or sanitation symptoms on an operating line. Start with process engineering.
A project already in trouble
You have an open punch list, a slipping startup, or vendors who have stopped cooperating. Start with project management and commissioning.
Ask the Question With the Project Attached
A useful answer depends on the plant, the product, the equipment, the schedule, and what is actually at risk. Send what you know and Solon will help you identify the next step.