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The KTM red wine 'automatic treading' system - with electro-pneumatic diving-paddle (2008 prices)
Although intended for use on red grapes during maceration and fermentation, this system could also be used for overnight skin contact of rose or white grapes, since its function is to push down the 'cap' that rises above the level of the juice.
The operation is fully automatic, with an electro-pneumatic controller, which is
used to set the number of times the diving-paddle falls and rises per quarter-hour interval, also the specific quarter-hour
time-periods during which it operates over each 24 hour day; for example every 4
hours.
A small air compressor is required, to deliver a 4 bar supply, these cost about
£100.
The tanks are stainless steel 'variable-capacity' vertical cylinders, with reinforced rims, flat bottoms, a very large manway door for easy removal of the grape mash (into a press), and optionally a very large inner sieve for fast draining of the juice/wine; the sieve is shaped so that it can be removed through the manway door. The tank can subsequently be used for storing the wine, with a normal inner floating lid and pump-up seal around the circumference.
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Tank sizes are:-
1000 litre (960mm diameter, 1520mm high) to process between 600 and
825
litres of mash.
With manway-door (420mm x 320mm), 3
welded-legs (total height 1940mm) and inner floating lid,
NW40 outlets and a hole for flap-valve, the price is
Euro 1699 + delivery from Germany.
The
diving-paddle unit is Euro 1315 and the electro-pneumatic controller is Euro 420
All the following have a manway-door (540mm x 420mm), inner floating lid and crane for
raising this,
NW50 outlets and hole for flap-valve, two NW15 connections for fitting optional sample-tap and
temperature-probe. A massive 700mm high st-steel stand
costs Euro 880.
2000 litre (1340mm diameter, 1500mm high)
Euro 2695 + delivery from Germany, to process between 1200 and
1650 litres
of mash.
The diving-paddle unit is Euro 1740 and
the electro-pneumatic controller is Euro 420
2500 litre (1340mm diameter, 2000mm high)
Euro 2965 + delivery from Germany, to process between
1500 and 2060 litres
of mash.
The diving-paddle unit is Euro 1740 and
the electro-pneumatic controller is Euro 420
3000 litre (1600mm diameter, 1500mm high)
Euro 4040 + delivery from Germany, to process between
1800 and 2475 litres
of mash.
The diving-paddle unit is Euro 2090 and
the electro-pneumatic controller is Euro 420
4000 litre (1600mm diameter, 2000mm high)
Euro 4340 + delivery from Germany, to process between
2400 and 3300 litres
of mash.
The diving-paddle unit is Euro 2090 and
the electro-pneumatic controller is Euro 420
The standard diving-paddle falls and rises 1 metre so the contents of the tank must be between 90 cm and 30 cm below the tank rim. An optional 30 cm longer pneumatic-cylinder is available for Euro 190 extra. This allows smaller amounts of mash to be processed.
To raise the 60/80 kilo diving-paddle unit I use a manual chain-hoist and a
push-pull-trolley running along an RSJ. Alternatively there is a
fork-lift-attachment for lifting the diving-paddle unit at Euro 190 extra.
It is possible to have a single diving-paddle unit and a line of tanks, so that the diving-paddle can be moved
along the line from tank to tank. Or it is possible to have one electro-pneumatic controller
for several diving-paddle units, assuming sufficient air-compressor volume is
available.
It is vital to take account of the winery ceiling height when choosing a tank, since a height of 1.77 metres is necessary above the tank-top, for the diving-paddle unit and clearance for lifting it off the tank.
It is the lowest price 'automatic treading' system on the market, and has been tested and approved by Geisenheim. Results are far superior to 'pumping over' and it is effortless.
A range of larger sizes are available, up to 7500 litres.
Prices shown are exclusive of Vat. Delivery is extra.