The age-old, and still practiced, process of manual punch down is now modernized, automated and brought to a larger scale thanks to Speidel! Now th eFD-IT tank improves on the original Pneumatic Punchdown system by moving the pneumaitc piston inside the tank, accomodating wineries with ceiling height restrictions and allowing for tanks to be used to process much smaller lots of must (as little as 40% of full tank capacity!)
This simple but effective system features an external pneumatic cylinder which drives the punching assembly. During the downward stroke the folding stainless punching wings lay flat against the top of the pommace cap and push the solids back into the fermenting wine. On the upward stroke of the cycle the wings set at angle which induces the wings to rotate about 30 degrees, position themselves over a fresh segment of the cap, and the cycle then repeats itself. The whole cap can be punched in as little as 5-6 punch cycles—about 15 minutes!
The duration of time that the tank performs punch downs, and the interval of time between them, are adjustable depending on your individual vineyard, vintage and winemaking style.
Must Discharge:
Forward sloped Fermentation Manway with hinged door opening.
System Electrical and Pneumatic Requirements:
- 220V, 1-phase, 60Hz power for the control system.
- Compressor should be able to provide 500L/min at 6 bar pressure with a minimum of 90L tank capacity (17.7 CFM at 87 psi with a 24 gallon tank).
- Speidel recommends that the compressed air be conditioned before entering the pneumatic cylinder and recommends either the FESTO FRC-1/2-D MIDI-A (Part No. 159591) or the SMC AC40A-F04DE or equivalent.
Air Consumption per punch cycle:
| Immersion Depth | Air Consumption |
| 1000 mm | 12.3 liters |
| 1250 mm | 15.3 liters |
| 1500 mm | 18.3 liters |
| 1750 mm | 21.4 liters |