The Essential Machine For Cider Making- Belt Press

The UK leads the world in cider consumption, and is home to some of the largest cider producing companies. Yes, you could say we love cider. To start with, we explore how cider came to be so popular in the UK, before delving in to how this country’s favourite is made.

The Rise Of Cider In The UK

Between the 16th and 19th centuries, temperatures dropped and this had a big impact on the wine industry as the climate was not favourable for grapes during this period. Apples however were able to survive the cooler weather, and the climate shaped cider into a leading drink in the UK.

“What kind of cider would you like?” is a question that is increasingly common, whether in a pub, in the shop or standing in front of the fridge at home. The rise of cider, particularly among young Brits is due to the diversity of cider on offer and the new and exciting flavours being created. These ciders include mango, watermelon, blackberry or even banana flavour. They all start with an apple and the juice it provides, often flavours are added later using syrups.

History Of Presses

In order to make cider you need to extract the juice from apples. The process has developed over the millennia, and in fact has only recently changed following the industrial revolution. Many basic civilisation such as the UK before the roman era would have originally made cider using hand tools, this was a time consuming and labour intensive operation, cider was revered as a drink for the wealthy.

The following roman era apples pressing developments continued and the stone mill became the tool of choice. This tool could be powered by water, horses or even some unlucky humans. The system allowed for greater capacity of fruit to be processed. Some examples of these remain today and are fascinating to watch.

As time went on and developments continued, the screw came about. The screw press was first used in the 13th century. This design should be familiar to most home cider makers and indeed these are sold today. Apples are first ground into a pulp and then using a screw are pressed. Modern variants of this use a rack and cloth. Lastly in the modern age the belt press came along, this piece of engineering has allowed for increased capacity in shorter time, with the added benefit of reduced labour. This machine has truly revolutionised the cider making industry.

Modern Presses

Apple juice is extracted on an industrial scale using different devices. Several different press construction solutions are used in the food industry in the modern age. One of the most popular of these as mentioned is the belt press. Vitikit works with Maurer Gép, who has more than ten years of experience in the production of fruit processing machinery. This company is based in Hungary and delivers machines to more than 50 countries all around the world. Maurer Gép offers 4 types of belt presses with different capacities and specifications.

The belt presses are made of stainless steel which is mounted on adjustable vibration-free feet. The design is based on pulling a belt pair against a static curved face. When compared to other types of presses, belt presses use relatively lower pressures, but in return it is fully automatic and perfectly suitable for apples. It is equipped with a built-in inverter which is responsible for the steplessly adjustable belt speed. Capacity starts at 300 kg/h and goes up to 1400 kg/h with a high juice yield of 65-70%.

The belt is made of food industrial polyester that requires continuous cleaning during processing. The machines have a built-in cleaning system, consisting of a rotating brush and a high pressure washer that cleans the belt. Another essential tool for operating the belt presses is the compressor. The compressor’s function is to tighten the belt and hold it in the middle by means of air springs on each side.
Great emphasis has been placed on so-called easy cleaning when designing the machines. Time spent cleaning is time that could be used doing other important tasks. All Maurer belt presses can be disassembled down to the frame in 3 minutes without any tools, so we can effortlessly reach the delicate parts.

Contact Us

Vitikit has the experience to get the most out of your cider making line. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us via email address info@vitikit.com. We are keen to help work through the hurdles to help you produce consistent and delicious cider. Our team is here to discuss your current set-up and how you can improve your products in the future, so get in touch with our experts at your convenience.