Used Puleo SF24 Open Drum Membrane Press

Item is a used Puleo SF24 open drum membrane press. The machine was sold new by Calsen and Associates and is represneted in very good shape having been used in a small winery. The  Puleo SF24 is a professional-grade pneumatic open-drain membrane (bladder) press used in the winemaking industry. Manufactured by the Italian winery equipment company Puleo S.p.A., the "SF24" designation signifies that the machine features a 24-hectoliter (HL) drum capacity, capable of holding approximately 5 to 6 tons of grapes depending on the variety and whether they are crushed or whole-cluster.

The primary function of the Puleo SF24 is to extract high-quality juice (must) from whole or crushed grapes for white winemaking, or to separate wine from fermented grape skins (marc) during red winemaking.

It performs this through a process called gentle pressing:

• The Bladder Mechanism: Grapes are loaded into a large horizontal stainless steel cylindrical cage (drum). Inside, a heavy-duty fabric membrane (or bladder) inflates using compressed air from an onboard compressor.
• Gentle Extraction: As the bladder inflates, it presses the grapes smoothly against the opposite, perforated wall of the open tank. This low-pressure squeeze ensures the juice is extracted without crushing the grape seeds (pips) or tearing the stems, which prevents harsh, bitter tannins from leaking into the wine.
• Open-Drain System: Because it is an "open tank" system, the juice immediately drains through slits in the cylinder wall directly into a large stainless steel collection pan below, allowing for highly efficient liquid separation.

Key Features

• Customizable Pressing Cycles: It utilizes digital PLC controls (often serviced and distributed in the US by companies like Carlsen & Associates) featuring pre-programmed and manually adjustable cycles tailored specifically for different wine styles, such as red-specific or champagne/sparkling-specific programs.
• Versatile Loading: It supports whole-cluster feeding (ideal for delicate white wines) using an attached hopper or axial feeding directly through valves.
• Flexible Capacity: It features a "no minimum load" requirement, meaning small experimental batches can be pressed just as effectively as full-capacity loads