During the VINITECH-SIFEL exhibition in Bordeaux, PMH VINICOLE reveals its latest innovation. Heli-X: a new generation of must pump that respects the integrity of the grape and drastically reduces juice’s oxidation and the risk of bacterial contamination.
Heli-X: 2 years of research and 2 patented innovations
While innovation in wine pumps is dynamic thanks to the role played by PMH Vinicole for 13 years, the market for must pumps has not seen any innovation for over 20 years.
Indeed, the industry has been dominated by technologies such as helical rotor and elliptical rotor pumps. All of them have their share of drawbacks:
- the “pulsating” effect of elliptical rotor pumps, which requires the use of compensation
chambers and increases the risk of bacterial contamination - the uncontrolled crushing of the grapes and the excessive speed of helical rotor pumps
After two years of tests in vineyards, PMH Vinicole’s Research & Development teams have
developed an innovative must pump with a new technology: Heli-X, composed of a helical
bilobe rotor and a perpetual motion flow-control valve.
This powerful and safe pump does not need an anti-pulsation chamber thanks to two patented technologies that allow a progressive thrust of the whole grapes without pulsation as the rotor rotates, thus reducing the compression and expansion phases that the fluid suffers during pumping.
Heli-X respects the integrity of the grape and therefore reduces drastically the risk of the
juice’s oxidation and bacterial infection.
Characteristics LX500
Flow of whole or destemmed grapes: 25 to 55 T/hour (mechanical or manual)
- Preservation of the sanitary condition of the grapes (no anti-pulsation chamber, easy
cleaning) - Powerful pump, strong suction, strong output
- Silent operation, low wear and tear, high safety due to perpetual motion of the
flow-control valve
Working the grapes and juices with flexibility, reducing oxygen pick-up in the wines, increasing the comfort of the cellar’s operators, constitutes for PMH Vinicole the biggest challenge in terms of innovation.
The company designs, manufactures and markets its equipment mainly for the wine and spirits sector, in France and worldwide. PMH Vinicole in figures: 22 employees – Turnover: 6.5 M€ / 25% annual growth.
