Known for their harvesting and sorting systems, Pera-Pellenc delve further into the cellar, developing smart technologies to increase automation and efficiency for winery operations.
Traditionally, labour costs have been the biggest driver in regard to the simplification and streamlining of processes in the cellar. In a time of social distancing, and the new “COVID normal”, the concept of automation in the cellar is one which has become much more important, and one of interest from the largest to even the smallest of cellars.
Pellenc is a French group which was founded in 1973. With the purchase of Pera in 2014, and their own 120 years of innovation and experience, the Pera-Pellenc group have become an international force, leading the pack in both the vineyard, and cellar equipment.
With a worldwide presence, and a close relationship with their customers and their needs, Pera-Pellenc continues to innovate and revolutionise cellar equipment through the development of their Smart automation range.
The Smart range includes three main areas for integrating automation into the cellar. These include,
Pera-Pellenc at a glance
1495 employees worldwide
16 subsidiaries including 6 factories
10 M€ invested each year in R&D,
113 people working in R&D
884 patents
Smart Oak
Smart Oak is an automated tool for managing the oaking process. The Smart Oak system includes an oaking tank, a pump and built-in sensors that improve the speed, control and ensure repeatability of the oaking process.
A variety of wood fragments can be used including wood chips, staves and blocks.
Smart Oak aging is completed in a few days rather than months. The winemaker chooses the type of oak and sets the intensity level by using the simple, easy-to-use interface.
We see a reduction in labour costs associated with the removal and disposal of oak alternatives, but also faster turnaround of tanks and finishing of wines for bottling.
Quality
Cost effective
Efficiency
Comfort
“Smart Oak provides a response to an urgent, unplanned demand for oaking. The organoleptic result still complies with current practice. The oaking is also repeatable. Smart Oak is easy to use and implement. The wine keeps its fruit and its aroma, while adopting volume in the mouth and added structure.”
Smart Glass
Smart Glass is an intelligent, connected sensor for automatic control of liquid transfers.
The Smart Glass solution consists of two interacting elements:
Smart Glass will detect a change in the liquid and notify the operator in real time. If Smart Glass is paired with a pump pilot, it will send an order to stop the pump if it detects any change in the liquid.
Possible applications include:
Quality
Cost effective
Performance
Comfort
Smart Press
The new Smart Press range of pneumatic presses meets the needs of the most demanding winemakers.
Equipped with the latest innovations from Pera-Pellenc, including Fast Press drainage trays and the smart pressing system, we are able to optimise use of the Smart Press to extract high-quality juices.
The Smart Press pneumatic press range is available for all cellars, from 20-600hl in the closed cage version, and 40- 150hl in the open-cage version.
In terms of automation, there are two main features which allow winemakers not only greater insight into their pressing process, but also the ability to adjust processes for greater efficiency as well as time and labour saving during harvest.
Easy Press
Easy Press – the new intuitive Touch Press tactile interface and the Easy Press 2 smart pressing system simplifies use from the outset:
Smart Graph
Smart Graph- a decision-making aid that allows the winemaker to understand and optimise the pressing. It enables a real-time diagnostic directly on the screen on the press, or later on a computer with Smart Graph software. By analysing the curves, the winemaker can get an understanding of problems arising from filling, clogging, etc. and take steps to optimise the various pressing phases (filling, drainage, pressing and so on). This has a direct impact on the quality of the wines (quantity of lees and juice extraction time = limits oxidation) and as well as decisions regarding harvest dates.
Optimising the various pressing steps has a significant impact on the pressing time. In many cases, it shortens the pressing process and saves the cellar a considerable amount of time.
Smart Graph lets the user visualise the progress of the pressing process in real time. The following information can be displayed as a curve:
Advantages of this information and system include:
Better understand the pressing process by visualising the various parameters as curves on a graph
For more information on the range by Pera-Pellenc and their Smart automation systems, as well as to speak to sales to discuss your site requirements, please contact:
Rebecca Hellweg
Rebecca.hellweg@pellenc.com.au
0497 999 973
Rebecca Hellweg
National Sales Representative, Pera Pellenc Winemaking Technologies
With over 12 years wine industry experience, as well as a B.Sc. (Agr.) and M.WBus, Rebecca is experienced in all facets of wine production, from harvest to bottle. She is passionate about helping winemakers to improve wine quality through automation and advancements in technology, whilst respecting the balance between the science and art of winemaking.
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This article was originally published in the September issue of The Australian & New Zealand Grapegrower & Winemaker. To find out more about our monthly magazine, or to subscribe, click here!
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