CASE STUDY
GEA Decanter Installed with Full Utility Integration at Premium California Winery
Privately owned winery and vineyard operation
Beverage – Wine Production
Mechanical installation and utility tie-ins; Structural support fabrication and installation; Piping for compressed air, cold water, and product transfer; Equipment installation and startup support; P&IDs and equipment documentation
Overview
TM Process & Controls, Inc. (TMPC) was contracted to provide mechanical services for the installation of a GEA CF 4000-71-35 decanter at a family-owned winery in Acampo, CA. TMPC’s scope included setting the decanter, installing associated utility piping, integrating GEA components, and fabricating both wall-mounted and floor-mounted supports. The decanter was positioned across indoor and outdoor utility areas with connections made for cold water, compressed air, and product flow.
Problem
The winery required a reliable installation of a high-capacity decanter system during peak operations, with precise integration into existing utilities and limited downtime for tie-ins and commissioning.
Solution
TMPC delivered a turnkey mechanical installation package that included decanter anchoring, utility piping, component integration, labeling, and bollard protection. Structural supports were custom-fabricated to match the layout, and the team handled startup tasks including flushing, header charging, and troubleshooting.
Results
- GEA decanter fully integrated into the facility’s utility and production systems
- Seamless tie-ins to existing compressed air, cold water, and product transfer infrastructure
- Clean, labeled, and code-compliant piping with structural support to protect all process lines
- Minimal disruption to facility operations during installation and startup
- Winery now benefits from enhanced solid-liquid separation capabilities
