The work that goes into creating award-winning wines cannot be understated. As the fields of Australian wineries become ripe for harvest season, winemakers prepare their facilities for processing wine products, with the understanding that each sip must reflect the intended flavour and texture of the quality of their grapes. Wineries require precisely designed banked filtration systems that will pass the wine from large to small filters in a scaled process, to achieve the best looking and tasting wine possible.
CBC works to supply winemakers with integrated wine filtration systems that optimise the flavour and stabilise the texture of every bottle. One of the ways they achieve this, is by partnering with world leading innovators in wine filtration like 3M, according to CBC Product Manager for Filtration and Fluid Transfer, Michael Rowe.
“3M’s research and development into wine processing has led to ground-breaking inventions such as 3M™ Zeta Plus™ depth filters, the dual layer prefilter LifeASSURE™ BLA Series and the first Nylon membrane; LifeASSURE™ BA,” says Michael. “As a result, 3M has developed the most reliable and efficient system for optimising clarification, prefiltration, and final filtration of wine on the market.”
“In a winery, you must be attuned to the climate and consistency of the product at all times, ensuring proper filtration and no impurities,” says Michael. “Any changes in conditions can alter the temperature and taste of a wine, which could negate all the work and time put into a harvest.” The 3M™ Zeta Plus™ H and MH series filters have been tailored by design to cater to the most demanding parameters of wine production, explains Cassandra Taylor, 3M Marketing Manager for Filtration Systems. “Zeta Plus™ H filters are a charge-modified depth filter constructed with high tensile strength to perform efficiently under high operating temperatures and repeated sanitisation cycles. Available in a wide range of micron ratings, the Zeta Plus™ H are easy to use and light on labour costs,” she says.
A step up from the H filters, are the Zeta Plus™ MH series, The MH series have mechanical entrapments that work by electrokinetic absorption, and consist of two distinct layers, or ‘zones,’ of filtration,” she says. “The upstream zone is more open than the downstream zones, which allows for greater holding capacity of filter media and the result is that the larger particles are trapped in the upper zone, with the second filter catching the smaller ones, ultimately eliminating the risk of blockage and keeping the wine flowing smoothly through the filter.”
For prefiltering, the 3M LifeASSURE BLA series membrane prefilters are a multi-zone membrane solution designed to protect the wine as it moves to the downstream final filters. “The LifeASSURE BLA prefilters provide higher flux rates than other competing prefiltration products, which means fewer prefilters are required to provide the same flow rate, regardless of the pressure drop.” says Cassandra.
3M also offers the LifeASSURE BA and BNA filter membrane series, leading the way for advancement in membrane technology. “The BA membrane filters are made from microporous nylon membrane to lower extractables and retain the organoleptic qualities of wine, while the BNA filter membranes are made from polyethersulfone to provide superior retention of spoilage organisms,” explains Cassandra. “The goal is to preserve the microbiological stability of the wine.”
3M’s distribution partnership with CBC, allows them to readily supply their full spectrum range of filters to the Australian market in time for harvest. CBC’s wealth of knowledge and technical expertise enable them to support customers from the initial design stage of their filtration system to start-up, through to optimisation. 
