Filter Presses Manufactured by Met-Chem

Met-Chem manufactures new Filter Presses designed to fit your needs and budget. We offer a large variety of Filter Press sizes and options needed for your industrial application.

With over 60 years of experience, our team can help you select the right filter press, whether you need equipment for wastewater treatment, mining, plating, brewing, and any other tough industry. Let us help determine the correct filter press size and capacity for your specific need.

When selecting a Met-Chem Filter Press, you can choose among a wide array of options:

During the manufacturing process, you are always welcomed to visit our shop in Cleveland, Ohio to see your new filter press being built. We will be happy to provide periodic updates with e-mailed photos if desired.

Met-Chem can provide delivery and installation of your new Filter Press, both Domestically, and Internationally.

Ask Met-Chem about a Filter Press

Filter Press Sizes

470mm Filter Press

1 to 5 Cu. Ft

  • Automatic or Manual Hydraulic
  • 5 to 29 Gasketed Filter Plates 

630mm Filter Press

2 to 10 Cu. Ft

  • Automatic or Manual Hydraulic
  • 7 to 34 Gasketed Filter Plates 

800mm Filter Press

5 to 30 Cu. Ft

  • Automatic Hydraulic
  • 10 to 60 Gasketed Filter Plates 

1000mm Filter Press

15 to 50 Cu. Ft

  • Automatic Hydraulic
  • 19 to 63 Gasketed Filter Plates 

1200mm Filter Press

30 to 150 Cu. Ft

  • Automatic Hydraulic
  • 25 to 124 Gasketed Filter Plates 

1500mm Filter Press

100 to 300 Cu. Ft

  • Automatic Hydraulic
  • 51 to 151 Gasketed Filter Plates 

Filter Press

Filter Presses have been the focus of Met-Chem Manufacturing for many years. Filter presses (also known as Plate and Frame) have many benefits.  One, in particular, is that for such a large piece of machinery it has few parts to it.

The simplicity of the Filter Press means there is little maintenance work that is needed to be done to the press.

The filter press skeleton and filter press plates need zero repairs and as long as the press is operated properly. They will last a lifetime.

The different parts to a filter press include

  • the steel skeleton
  • the filter plates
  • the hydraulic pump and cylinder
  • the plumbing which includes the manifold and center feed pipe
  • and the filter press cloths

Filter Presses have been the focus of Met-Chem manufacturing for many years.  We have built a solid reputation for building quality Filter PressesClarifiersSludge DryersComplete Waste Treatment SystemsFilter Press Cloths, and Filter Press Plates. Our filter presses have been used in a variety of industries from plating and metal finishing to chemical and food processing to name a few. Met-Chem Filter Presses feature heavy duty steel construction with polypro gasketed plates. These filter presses can be manufactured with manual or automatic closures, but always with a hydraulic cylinder for sure, high-pressure closing. Met-Chem’s filter presses can be expanded for larger future capacity by building it in a larger skeleton with a distance piece. Once you are ready to expand, you can remove the distance piece and add the extra plates.

Met-Chem has the capability to manufacture to your specifications. Our Sales and Engineering team will work together to find the proper solutions to effectively handle your filtration needs. In addition to having a long history of being used for wastewater treatment, Met-Chem filter presses have been successfully used in Food Grade Applications. Aside from our standard polypro plates, we can provide membrane plates for special or Food Grade Applications

Filter Press Features

  • Air Driven Hydraulic Closing Pump with Pressure Gauge on Automatic Units
  • 2 Stage Hand Pump on Manual Units
  • Heavy Duty Hydraulic Cylinder for Opening and Closing of Press
  • Polypro Gasketed Recessed Plates for Leak Free Operation
  • Air Blown Manifold Piping for Air Drying Filter Cakes
  • Air Line Filter, Oiler, Regulator and Gauge on Automatic Units
Filter Press Overview
Filter Press with Specialty Coating
Specialty Coatings for Filter Presses - For extremely corrosive environments Met-Chem can provide specialty coatings to replace our standard 2-part epoxy paint. This can include sand blasting of the frame and the addition of a 2-part Vinyl Ester Coating.
Filter Press
Automatic Filter Press with Safety Cage
Fiberglass Enclosed Filter Press
Fiber glass Enclosures for Filter Presses - For extremely corrosive environments Met-Chem can provide fiber glass enclosures. These can include such options as sliding Lexon doors and Fiber Glass Sludge Funnels.

Filter Press Operation - How to Operate a Filter Press

Customize the Size of the Filter Press

The Met-Chem Backer Plate allows you to customize the size of the filter press. This is an fantastic feature when your sludge volume varies throughout the year. With a backer plate, you are able to move the tail plate up in the stack to make the filter area smaller. The metal backer plate will support the tail plate from damage.

A Backer Plate is an excellent option on a new filter press, and it can be installed on most existing filter presses.

The Met-Chem Distance Piece allows you to be able to expand the size of your filter press. By removing the distance piece, you are able to place additional filter plates in the press. This allows you to purchase a large filter press skeleton, without the need of purchasing all the plates at once. When you need to expand your filter press capacity, you can purchase the remaining plates at a later date. Thus, saving you money.

A Distance Piece is an excellent option on a new filter press, especially if you are expecting that you may need a larger filter press in the future.

Ask Met-Chem about a Backer & Distance Piece

Semi-Automatic Plate Shifter

Watch the Video to See the Plate Shifter in Action!

The Met-Chem Semi-automatic Plate Shifter is our most popular requested add-on feature. The plate shifter makes operating your filter press easier, safer, and more efficient. Met-Chem offers various styles and levels of Automated Plate Shifters.

With large filter press plates, it would take two employees to move each plate and empty the filter press. The semi-automatic plate shifter allows one person to shift the plates. Thus, Saving You Money on Labor, and increasing productivity. Watch the video to see the plate shifter in action.

Met-Chem can add-on, rebuild and retrofit your existing filter press with a Semi-automatic Plate Shifter.

Ask Met-Chem about a
Plate Shifter

Bomb Bay Doors to Catch Drips

Met-Chem Bomb Bay Doors will catch dripping water that may come out of the plates during operation. These are typically used with Non-Gasketed Filter Press Plates since they are more prone to leak, as our gasketed plates will not leak. The excess water that leaks from the non-gasketed plates will be collected in a gutter system or perhaps a floor drain.

This add-on option can be installed with a new Met-Chem Filter Press or retrofitted for your existing filter press.

When the filter press is ready to be emptied, open the Bomb Bay Doors, and the sludge can be collected using a Met-Chem Sludge Dumpster.

Ask Met-Chem about Bomb Bay Doors

Sludge Dumpster for a Filter Press

Sludge Dumpsters are used directly under the filter press to catch the sludge that is released from the filter press during cleaning.

The sludge dumpster is on casters for easy mobility, and it is equipped with forklift slats for convenient use with a tow motor.  The operator can move the dumpster to a roll-off container with the forklift and then pull the release pin for easy emptying.

The dumpster can then be snapped back to the upright position and put back under the filter press.

Ask Met-Chem about a
Sludge Dumpster

Watch the Video to See the Dumpster in Action!

Automated Pump Control System

Ask Met-Chem about an
Automatic Pump Control System

The Automatic Pump Control System automatically and gradually increases the feed pressure in four stages during the filling cycle.  These stages are adjustable to suit your slurry and solids concentration.  However, it is commonly set at increments of 25 psi.  (25, 50, 75, 100).  By monitoring the feed pump flow sensor, during the final pressure stage, the operator will be able to determine the cycle completion.

The Automatic Pump Control System also incorporates a low hydraulic pressure safety shut down the device.  If there is not enough hydraulic clamping pressure present, the system will completely shut down, eliminating any possible leaking from between the filter plates.

The pump control system allows your filter press to run at its optimum efficiency creating dryer filter cakes, reducing disposal costs, reducing operator time, and increasing the life of your filter cloths and feed pumps.

This system can be incorporated with a new filter press from Met-Chem, a used unit, or even your own existing press.

Longer Legs and Sludge Disposal Chutes

Met-Chem can provide Longer Legs and a Disposal Chute on a new Filter Press, or retrofit your existing filter press. This is especially useful if you are releasing the sludge from the press into a sludge bag or a drum. The chute will direct the sludge directly into your container.  If you plan to use a sludge disposal bag, we can add hooks to the chute so that the sludge bag can be hung from the frame of the press.

For some larger presses, we can build a catwalk along with the disposal chute in order to accommodate a roll-off container.

Ask Met-Chem about a Filter Press with Sludge Chutes and Longer Legs

Filter Press Options

Filter Press Cycles

1 - Filling Stage

Filter Press - Filling

Filling Stage: The Slurry enters and fills the chambers through a feed pump. 

2 - Filtration Stage

Filter Press - Filtration

Filtration Stage: Once the chambers are filled with the slurry, the pressure from the feed pump will force the liquid filtrate out from the chambers. The Filter Plates and Filter Cloths will capture the solid particles creating sludge.

3 - Air Blowdown Stage

Filter Press - Air Blow Down Stage

Air Blowdown Stage: The Air Blowdown Procedure allows the remaining free liquid in the filter press to be purged before the filter chambers are opened. Air is entered through a filtrate port, and the remaining liquid is forced out. This improves cake dryness.

4 - Cake Discharge Stage

Filter Press - Cake Discharge

Cake Discharge Stage: Each chamber is opened for cleaning. The sludge is removed and the filter cloths are cleaned if needed.

Filter Press Feasibility and Sizing Test

Met-Chem’s Filter Press Feasibility Test is our most popular and common test conducted in our lab. This test is performed to ensure that a filter press is able to filter solids properly with your specific application. The test will allow us to determine cloth sizing and if any filter aid will be required for your slurry. With less than a gallon of your typical wastewater, we can see if a filter press will provide the desired result. We will then send you the filtrate (liquid) as well as the solids that we are able to separate from your waste stream. The filter press test will also provide information to estimate the percentage of solids in order to properly size a filter press unit.

In the diagram below, Met-Chem was able to take a sample slurry and filter the liquid from the solids.

Met-Chem Laboratories
Met-Chem lab.

Ask Met-Chem about Wastewater Testing

A Turnkey Solution for a Unique Filter Press Situation: We were contacted by an energy company regarding their water filtration issues. The problem was their large filter press was suspended 16 feet about a trailer, and it needed to be replaced. Read More about the Filter Press Solution >>

From PF Online: Filtration: A Simple Solution for a Big Problem: New Product From: Products Finishing, Edited by Hannah Coombs, Assistant Editor from Products Finishing ~ Posted on: 2/1/2017 ~ Cloth blinding can be a major issue. Precoating might be the answer.

Filter Press:  Plate and Frame vs. Recessed Plate What is the difference between a plate and frame filter press and a recessed plate filter press?

Water Treatment Case Study: A Clean Lagoon is a Good Lagoon: Fiberboard Manufacturer’s existing system could not handle the volume of paper pulp being generated.  They needed to clear out the sediment that was accumulating in their lagoon that was in violation of environmental regulations.

Membrane Filter Press Article: A membrane press can reduce cycle time by approximately, 50% on average and, in some cases, even as much as by 75% depending upon the application.

Filter Press Case Study: No time to Waste – Emergency Filter Press Repair and Replacement: The client contacted Met-Chem with an immediate need for repair.  Aside from the safety concerns of a damaged press, a filter press cannot run with a broken skeleton.  For this application, waste was continuously generated, which rendered this an emergency situation.

Filter Press Case Study: Turning water into Gold: To dewater the gold concentrate, Met-Chem installed a 1200MM filter press, and to eliminate the need for tailing ponds, Met-Chem designed a 1500MM filter press to dewater the tailings concentrate.

Filter Press Sludge Dryer catwalk

A Mobile Filter Press? Is that Possible?

There are plenty of reasons why a filter press may not ever have a final destination. Probably the biggest reason for this is because a filter press is so versatile that it can easily adapt to many different jobs without much modification.

Some other reasons why some filter presses need to be mobile is because their jobs are always moving. If different tanks need to be filtered at different times a mobile filter press can be used. A job site also may move, and the mobile filter press needs to move with it. Finally, some job sites only need a filter press for a short period of time and the mobile press can also satisfy this need.

Learn more about our a Mobile Filter Press

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