Notes on using Willmes WP Pneumatic grape presses

Winegrowers Supplies - Notes on using Willmes WP Pneumatic grape presses:

Compressor: The oil needs to be changed every 10 years; use a gear oil.

Once a year - unscrew the water release valve (under the outlet tube).

Press grease: the hand turned pieces could be replaced with grease nipples.

Press filling/emptying doors: these must always be fitted in the same positions that they are initially; there are pressure vents at the ends.

With a 1000 litre Press a complete filling should give 900 to 1000 litres of juice, including free run juice.

Normally 5 to 6 pressings are made, initially at ½ bar then at 1 bar etc, progressively increasing it to 2½ (or 3 bar). 'Crumbling' is carried out between each pressing, the pressure must be reduced to ½ bar (or less) before crumbling.

To obtain the best quality juice it may be preferable not to use the full pressure available. Experiment with repeated pressings at 2 bar to see whether sufficient juice can be extracted at this pressure.

When 'crumbling' - up to a minutes rotation is sufficient to redistribute the grapes.
Rotation is in a clockwise direction (when standing at the control end).