A Cooperage Moment: Putting on the Hoops

In the coopering process, our barrels go through two sets of hoops. The first set of toasting hoops holds the staves together as they are hammered into place and then toasted. They're partially removed while the ends are crozed, and as the heads are fitted in, they're replaced by galvanized steel hooping. The shiny steel comes from both Ohio and France. This Cooperage Moment shows the hoop placement machine making sure they are placed tight and secure. Without the hooping in place, the staves would fall apart.

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