Introduction:

Modern polymer catalyst technology (i.e.metallocene catalysts) has given rise to polyethylene (PE) grades which are well-suited for the long-term, no-taint storage of premium wines. These new food grade polymers:

- are extraordinarily clean and taint-free
- have "linear" molecular structures, with enhanced and consistent gas permeability
- have better mouldability, with less processing degradation
- have very low volatiles sorption ("scalping") levels
- have O2 permeability that mimics Oak walled tanks and vats, which are less reductive than metal tanks

Introduced into the Australian wine industry for vintage 2003, Flextank's C-P poly wine tanks comply with international food contact and migration standards and have been shown to be completely taint free. They have also proved to be particularly easy to clean with no tartar stick up and no stain retention.

Flextank vessels have achieved great acceptance, with over 4,000 tanks and maturation vessels now in use in all of the states and wine regions. Approx. 40% of orders are from existing users, indicating a high degree of user satisfaction with these products.

Flextank Wine Storage and Maturation tanks are now being moulded in Australia, New Zealand and California and are being exported and used world-wide.

Flextank continues to innovate, the latest products being a stackable, transportable cube-shaped maturation vessel and a CO2 harvesting system that allows collected CO2 to be fed back to ullaged tanks.

Permeable Tank Specifications & Prices:

Printed Brochure Download

Variable Capacity:

C-P tanks can be fitted with internal floating "Skins", (see details above & on web site). Used with CO2 in the head space, these allow simple, safe, hygienic variable capacity operation. Scum formation is arrested, as is acetadehyde development at the surface.

The "Skins" float in the wine, blocking most of the free surface. Because the rate that gases dissolve in liquids is directly related to the exposed surface area, head-space CO2 doesn't dissolve quickly & SO2 loss is greatly reduced. Argon/Nitrogen cover isn't required.

Outdoor Use & Light Strike:

C-P tanks are supplied standard in translucent, U-V blocking polymer. This allows contents & lees to be directly seen through the tank walls. Extra light inside also makes racking & internal cleaning easier. However, wine flavour and colour may be affected if uncovered C-P tanks are exposed to strong sunlight, even through windows.

Flextank offers two alternatives to block sunlight, a Flextank insulating cover or an opaque grey tank ( no extra cost).

Manufacture, Delivery, Installation & Use: