Specialist monitoring solutions provider, ifm efector, will be exhibiting its fermentation monitoring products at the 2025 Wine Tech Exhibition this month in Adelaide. Regional sales manager, Darryl Blackeby, outlines the technology’s importance for the industry.
Fermentation is a vital step in the production of high-quality wine, with wineries increasingly considering the adoption of new techniques and technologies to automate the ferment monitoring process.
“The industry is facing a number of challenges, including rising costs, competitive pressures, market fluctuations as well as labour shortages,” said Blackeby.
Source: ifm
“Wineries are looking for solutions that will reduce costs and drive production efficiency. Products that automate fermentation monitoring and negate the need for costly manual processes go a long way to answering this call.
“Yet some of the existing solutions are not as robust and reliable as the industry would like them to be.”
He points to traditional D.P transmitters as an example. These use ultra-thin (and fragile) diaphragms to monitor small changes in tank pressure and fermentation.
“When these fail, they can release glycol or other fill materials, ultimately contaminating the wine,” said Blackeby.
The latest generation pressure transmitters from ifm efector have been developed to resolve these challenges. These precise transmitters use robust ceramic diaphragms that do not contain filler material that could contaminate the wine.
In addition, they’re equipped with IO-link technology, which sends detailed ferment measurement data from the sensors to the winemaker’s dashboard.
“Essentially, this enables the wine maker to monitor the Brix values and the fermentation process in real time, without the need for manual checks,” said Blackeby.
A complete ferment monitoring solution
To create an intelligent ferment monitoring system that meets the requirements of both small wineries as well as large operations, ifm offers a mini ferment monitoring system.
“This is a compact but complete monitoring solution that enables the winemaker to trial automated fermentation monitoring with minimal outlay and disruption to existing control systems,” said Blackeby.
The system comprises pressure transmitters that can be easily mounted in pump over lines instead of in the actual tanks, making installation simpler. It operates efficiently as a stand-alone solution, but can be integrated with other systems or expanded to include additional monitoring.
By automating wine fermentation monitoring, wineries benefit from more accurate control of the fermentation process, leading to more consistent, good quality wine.
“The data generated from an automated system like the mini ferment monitoring system, is really useful in fine-tuning processes and operations, in turn supporting more efficient, cost-effective production,” concludes Blackeby.
“By blending innovative technology with the craft of traditional winemaking, we help wineries achieve excellent wine quality, more efficiently.”
ifm will be participating in the upcoming 2025 Wine Tech Exhibition (taking place from 21-23 July at the Adelaide Convention Centre), showcasing their specialised hygienic flow meter and their temperature monitoring solutions. The company will be located at stand 1318.
