The best pump to move your grapes from a hopper or crusher into a holding tank is the one that delivers them most in tact. Centrifugal pumps used by many wineries do tremendous damage to grapes by excessive force resulting from the high rpm needed to achieve adequate pressure. High rpm centrifugal pumps also shear the juice. Vogelsang rotary lobe pumps do not need to revolve as fast to achieve the appropriate pressure required to move grapes into your holding tank resulting in better grape and juice quality with minimal shear.

Progressing cavity pumps tend to smash grapes and seeds releasing oil into the juice which will affect the taste of your wine. They are also known to severely damage grape skins. Progressing cavity pumps require higher horsepower motors and are very sensitive to foreign objects and debris such as staples that commonly get into the must. Our smaller rotary lobe pumps require less power for the same capacity as a progressing cavity pump and are able to pass solids up to 2.5” (61mm).

Other lobe pumps use straight, not convoluted, two or three tipped lobes made from stainless steel that don't feature the large internal cavity that our HiFlo have. This style of lobe crushes grapes, seeds stems and skins. Because their steel will not give like our elastomeric will, these pumps will frequently lock up from staples and other debris. The straight three lobe design made from any material has the highest pulsation rate of all lobe designs. 

Vogelang pumps are great for pump over applications. As with the must pump applications, centrifugal pumps shear the liquid each time the juice is cycled through the pump. The longer you pump over the juice the more aerated it gets. With a Vogelsang pump you get minimal liquid shear so you can pump over the juice longer which enables you to extract more of the flavor from the must. For smaller wineries that choose a smaller portable rotary lobe pump for must applications, a separate set of hoses can be configured so you can use the same unit for your pump over application.

Vogelsang pumps are also ideal for pumping juice into your next tank for blending. Centrifugal pumps run at high RPM causing a blender effect inside the pump in order to transfer liquids.  This can bruise the wine, and if there is still skins or seeds, they can macerate them and cause poor tastes in the wine.  The Vogelsang HiFlo® lobe design is smooth and gentle, and doesn't shear the juice.