Description
What the floating lid actually does
Wineries buy variable capacity tanks because volume never stays fixed. You rack 4,800 L into a 5,000 L vessel, draw off for topping, and end up with 4,200 L sitting under air. The floating lid rests on the wine surface and rises or falls with the level, so headspace stays small and your SO2 additions stay predictable instead of guessed.
How we build them
Tank bodies are rolled from 304 stainless, 2.5–3 mm depending on diameter. For high-acid musts or aggressive wash water we switch to 316L. Interior welds are ground and passivated, 2B mill finish as standard, with an optional 320-grit polish if you plan to run white juice through the same tank. The lid is a dished plate with a food-grade EPDM gasket, either inflatable or mechanical, sealing against the shell without scuffing it.
Cooling jackets are dimple or channel type, sized on the surface area needed to pull a ferment down, not simply on volume. A 5,000 L tank with one jacket zone behaves differently from the same tank with two, and that difference shows on day three of a warm ferment. Standard fittings include a pressure-vacuum relief valve, sample valve, racking port, top manway and CIP spray ball. Butterfly valves in tri-clamp or DIN are your choice.
Where they fit
Small wineries run them as multi-purpose vessels: fermentation, storage and blending in one tank. Larger cellars use them for topping wine, lot separation and barrel-alternative programs. If you need true pressure fermentation, a fixed-top rated tank is the correct tool. A floating lid tank is a variable-volume storage vessel, not a pressure vessel.
Specifications
| Capacity | 2000 L / 3000 L / 5000 L / 8000 L |
| Material | 304 or 316L stainless steel |
| Shell thickness | 2.5–3 mm, diameter dependent |
| Interior finish | 2B mill, optional 320-grit polish |
| Lid seal | EPDM or silicone, inflatable or mechanical |
| Cooling | Dimple or channel jacket, one or two zones |
| Connections | Tri-clamp or DIN, racking and sample ports |
Common questions
Can I ferment under the lid? You can ferment with the lid raised or off. Do not pressurize the tank.
Which gasket lasts longer? EPDM for standard duty, silicone where CIP runs hot.
How is cleaning handled? A spray ball in the top manway covers the shell; the lid gasket is wiped and inspected each cycle.
Send us your batch size, wine type, number of tanks and ceiling height. We will size the jacket area and confirm the fittings before quoting.
Related products
Variable Capacity Wine Fermentation Tank with Floating Lid and Cooling Jacket
This variable capacity wine fermentation tank combines a floating lid and cooling jacket to control oxygen exposure and temperature during fermentation. Built with SUS304/316L stainless steel, it suits small wineries and custom-crush operations that need flexible batch volumes. Available with CIP spray ball and custom ports.
5000L Stainless Steel Floating Lid Wine Tank | Variable Capacity Fermenter
Built for cellars that need flexible capacity, this 5,000 L floating lid tank stores full lots or partial volumes under an inflatable EPDM gasket that seals against the shell. 304 stainless construction, 2.0 mm shell, dished bottom, 400 mm manway, optional cooling jacket and CIP spray ball. Tell us your lot sizes and cellar temperature for a configured quote.
5000L Red Wine Fermentation Tank, Floating Lid & Dimple Cooling Jacket
5000L red wine fermentation tank with floating lid and dimple cooling jacket. Built in SUS304 or 316L, it handles fermentation, maceration, and anti-corrosion storage in one vessel. The floating lid reduces headspace and oxygen pickup, while the dimple jacket controls must temperature. Available with CIP, racking arm, pressure/vacuum relief, and custom fittings for winery layouts.
Variable Capacity Wine Fermenter Tank with Floating Lid
Variable capacity wine tanks let one vessel handle several lot sizes. The floating lid seals against the wall with an inflatable gasket, eliminating headspace and slowing oxygen pickup during storage and malolactic fermentation. Built in 304 or 316L stainless with replaceable EPDM gaskets, tri-clamp fittings and optional dimple cooling jackets.
Although there were a few minor issues, thanks to Polly’s help, it looks brilliant and has brought my little distillery quite a few new customers.
Very good！！I see now in my texting to you that in my excitement over having the installation here in the USA I totally forgot to give you and the company of ACE a very big compliment on the quality of the whole Installation!! It all looks fabulous and the way you packed it in the container was extraordinary!! I am very impressed with your company and want to say a big thank you to everybody who worked on my order!!
We have been using this still for a few batches now making whiskey, gin and a few other spirits and we are very happy with the results so far. The gear works well and gives good control during distillation. The spirit comes out clean and consistent from batch to batch and we have gotten the flavor profile we were looking for. It has also been easy to operate and maintain. It has been a great addition to our distillery and I’d definitely recommend it to other craft distillers looking for reliable equipment.”
Polly is the man! I highly recommend him and this products they produce! I’m very satisfied. she communicates very well and the quality of workmanship is excellent! Shipping was exceptional. Thannks Polly and team
It took 60 days from ordering to delivery, and it looks like a work of art. Thank you to Polly for her help.
It was quite a big job to put the distiller together, so I asked a friend to help me, and I managed to get it done in just eight hours. I’m really pleased with it – it looks brilliant.Ryan Murphy
We are so happy with our new copper distillation system from ACE Distillery Equipment. The equipment is of a fine quality, well crafted and beautifully finished.
The whole process from manufacturing, shipping, installation to commissioning was seamless. The ACE team were professional, responsive and very knowledgeable. They helped us complete the installation successfully and gave great technical support.
It still looks amazing in our distillery and does exactly what it says on the tin. We highly recommend ACE to anyone looking for reliable and high quality distillation equipment.
Thank you ACE team for the great work!”
I want to express my 100% satisfaction with Ace . The service was outstanding: quick, professional, and friendly. Polly provided excellent support throughout. The delivered 100 gallon copper pot still distillery equipment product perfectly meets my expectations and stands out fo r its excellent quality. I feel well taken care of and will recommend you without hesitation.
Thank you for the great service.
Best regards,
Oliver Brown
