Page 13 - Grapevine MayJune 2021_REV

In The Winery

Hannan said that consideration must be given to
reliability, the low total cost of ownership and over-
all uptime when selecting a pump for any waste
application. He also said that it’s best to choose
pumps that are easy to maintain and designed to
prevent clogging.

“Gorman-Rupp Super T and Ultra V Series pumps
equipped with the Eradicator solids management
system are the best choices for self-priming, sol-
ids-handling pumps for any maintenance depart-
ment,” Hannan said. “Externally adjustable clear-
ances between the impeller and wear plate in com-
bination with the new lightweight inspection covers
are just a couple of the features that make routine
maintenance on these pumps easier than ever.”

Battersby from Carlsen said that just like a car,
a pump will stop working when you need it most
without preventative maintenance.

“Change O rings and seals on a regular basis,” he
said. “Change gearbox oils on schedule. Grease the
fittings regularly. Treat your pump with respect.
Without it, you won’t be pumping wine, and you
may not have a job! Keep basic spare parts on your
workshop shelf, such as O rings, diaphragms and
maybe a speed control. That way, if it breaks, you
can replace it with minimal downtime and then
replace your spare parts. It is not a huge invest-
ment, considering the loss if the pump breaks down
and lays idle waiting for repair. During bottling or
harvest, this can be critical.”

Qualities of a Good Winery Pump

A good winery pump should be tolerant of solids
and sediment while also keeping oxygen out of
the wine. Pumps shouldn’t agitate the wine during
their operation and should be relatively easy to
clean, sanitize and maintain. Many wineries look
for pumps that have compact designs so they don’t
take up too much space. Portability is also desirable
for pumps if there’s a need to move them around
the winery space. Staff training and safety are also
important considerations; choose pumps that are
easy to operate with a low learning curve so that
multiple staff members can use them regularly.

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