A square tank earns its place when the building is already standing. A 5,000 L square tote goes through a standard door and sits flat against a cellar wall in a way a cylindrical tank never will. That is usually the moment the inquiry arrives: the layout is fixed, the batch size is set, and the vessel has to work inside those limits.

We build these units from 2000 L up to 50000 L as IBC-style totes with a dimple plate cooling jacket on the side walls and, where the process requires it, on the bottom. The dimple pattern is spot-welded between inner and outer sheet, which gives a uniform glycol path and keeps the wall rigid without a heavy external frame. Compared with a wrapped coil, dimple plate holds pressure more predictably and is easier to keep clean on the outside.

Material choice follows the product. SUS304 covers most white and red fermentation. SUS316L is what we recommend where chloride-based cleaners, salty cooling water or long-term storage of high-acid must is involved. Inner sheet is normally 3 mm, outer 1.5 to 2 mm. Joints are TIG welded, ground flush and passivated. Wine tanks usually leave our shop at around Ra 0.8 µm internal finish, bright enough to stop tartrate and lees from gripping the wall without paying for a full mirror polish.

Cooling area is where the sizing decision is really made. Jacket surface has to match the heat load of the batch, not the tank volume. A 10,000 L tank used for cold settling needs far less jacket than the same tank running a fast, warm fermentation. We size the glycol inlet and outlet, fit internal baffles so the flow does not short-circuit, and set the jacket working pressure at 3 bar with the relief valve matched to it. Ask for the pressure test certificate before the tank leaves the factory.

Standard fittings include a top manway, CIP spray ball, adjustable racking arm, sample valve, RTD or thermometer port, vent or airlock connection and a level sight. All connections are sanitary clamped, so parts can be swapped in the cellar without welding on site.

Specifications

Common questions

Square or round? Round is cheaper per liter and easier to CIP. Square wins when floor area is the constraint or when you need to stack against a wall.

Can the same tank ferment beer? Yes, provided the jacket area is sized for the faster, warmer fermentation and the tank is rated for the pressure your process needs.

How much glycol will it draw? That depends on batch size, fermentation temperature and your chiller capacity. We calculate it from your process data, not from the tank volume alone.

Do you build to a fixed drawing? We build to yours. Send the drawing or the constraints and we will return a shop drawing for approval before cutting sheet.

Tell us your batch size, product type, number of tanks and available floor space. We can recommend the tank volume, jacket area and configuration for your cellar.