Plate and Frame Filter Press

A plate and frame filter press is a batch solid–liquid separation machine that uses alternating plates, frames, and filter cloth to produce clear filtrate and dry cakes.

Slurry is pumped into plate–frame chambers; pressure forces liquid through the cloth while solids build a cake on both sides, which is discharged after the cycle.

Frame, plates, frames (spacers), filter cloth, feed/manifold piping, hydraulic or manual closing device, nozzles, and drip trays.

Pharmaceuticals, chemicals, food and beverages, mining, textiles, and wastewater treatment for clarification and dewatering.

Industrial plate sizes commonly range from 12″ to 48″, allowing capacity scaling for labs to large plants.

Manual screw/ratchet, hand-hydraulic, air-over-oil, and electro-hydraulic systems for consistent plate clamping.

Filter presses are designed around 7–15 bar (about 100–225 psi), with specific machines rated for particular limits.

Polypropylene, nylon, polyester, and cotton cloths selected by particle size, chemistry, and clarity target.

Standard setups often operate near ambient up to moderate temperatures; higher temperatures require appropriate materials.

Plate and frame uses separate frames creating chambers; recessed chamber presses integrate a cavity in each plate for easier cake release and less leakage.

When very dry cake and shorter cycles are critical, membranes inflate to squeeze cakes after filtration for lower moisture.

Air diaphragm pumps are common because they don’t shear floc and stall when filtration completes; PD pumps suit higher-pressure duties.

Depending on slurry, pressure, cloth, and dryness required, cycles range from roughly tens of minutes to several hours.

Use proper cloth, maintain higher effective pressure, enable membrane squeeze or air blow, and allow adequate filtration time.

Ensure plate alignment, clean sealing edges, correct cloth fit without creases, and appropriate feed pressure profile.

Cloth washing/replacement, plate inspection, hydraulic oil checks, nozzle/manifold cleaning, and gasket/seal care.

Filter presses often yield drier, more rigid cakes with lower chemical dosing and generally lower maintenance costs than centrifuges.

SS-clad or stainless builds improve hygiene and corrosion resistance for food, beverage, and pharma applications.