Versatile Liquid Handling Solutions for Food, Beverage, and Industrial Operations (100L-50,000L)

Stainless Steel Tanks for Food and Beverage Production

Storage and blending vessels from 100L to 50,000L — food-grade SUS304/316L construction with full customization for any liquid handling application.

  • Dual-Function Range – Storage tanks for passive holding and blending tanks with integrated agitators for formulation and mixing.
  • Food-Grade Construction – SUS304/316L stainless steel, ≤0.4μm inner surface finish, CIP-compatible design across all configurations.
  • Fully Customizable – Jacketed heating/cooling, insulation, pressure rating, agitator type and PLC control tailored to your process requirements.
  • Widest Capacity Range – 100L to 50,000L, serving breweries, wineries, dairies, juice producers, food processors and industrial facilities.

Specialized Expertise in Food-Grade Tank Manufacturing

Dual-Purpose Design: Storage & Blending

Storage Tanks: Passive vessels designed for long-term liquid holding without active mixing. Ideal for finished products, raw materials, or intermediate storage between production stages. Features include temperature control jackets, level indicators, and bottom discharge valves.
Blending Tanks: Active mixing vessels equipped with agitators or impellers for uniform blending, dissolving, and homogenizing. Ideal for formulation, flavor blending, ingredient dissolving, and batch preparation. Features include variable-speed agitators, temperature control, and CIP-compatible design.

Food-Grade Hygienic Construction

  • SUS304/316L Stainless Steel: Food-grade material resistant to corrosion, acidic liquids (pH 2.5-7.0), and high-moisture environments. SUS316L recommended for highly acidic products (wine, cider, kombucha) or saltwater applications
  • ≤0.4μm Surface Finish: Pharmaceutical-grade polishing prevents bacterial growth, residue buildup, and flavor contamination. Smooth surfaces simplify cleaning and reduce sanitation time by 40-50%
  • CIP-Compatible Design: Fully welded seams, rounded corners, and spray ball integration enable automated Clean-In-Place cleaning. Reduces cleaning time from 2-3 hours(manual) to 45-60 minutes (automated).

Scalability for Growing Operations

ZPET’s modular tank design allows facilities to start with core storage/blending capacity (2-4 tanks) and expand by adding tanks, mixing systems, or temperature control as production grows. Our tanks support scaling from 500L/week (small operations) to 100,000L/week (industrial facilities) without replacing core equipment.

Choose Your Stainless Steel Tank Type & Capacity

ZPET offers stainless steel tanks in two main categories (Storage Tanks and Blending Tanks) with capacities ranging from 100L to 50,000L, designed for different applications and production scales

Storage Tanks (200L-50,000L)

Passive Liquid Holding for Finished Products & Raw Materials

  • Capacity Range: 200L to 50,000L (customizable)
  • Best For: Finished product storage (beer, wine, juice), raw material holding (water, syrups, oils), intermediate storage between production stages
  • Key Advantage: Long-term liquid preservation with optional temperature control—ideal for maintaining product quality during storage or distribution
  • Configuration: Vertical or horizontal orientation | Jacketed or non-jacketed | Atmospheric or pressurized (up to 3 bar)
  • Applications: Beer bright tanks, wine aging tanks, juice storage, dairy holding tanks, water reservoirs, oil storage

Blending Tanks (100L-50,000L)

Active Mixing for Formulation & Batch Preparation

  • Capacity Range: 100L to 50,000L (customizable)
  • Best For: Beverage blending (beer, wine, juice, coffee), ingredient dissolving (sugar, flavors), formulation (sauces, syrups), homogenizing (dairy, emulsions)
  • Key Advantage: Integrated agitator systems ensure uniform mixing and consistent product quality—ideal for complex formulations requiring precise ingredient distribution
  • Configuration: Top-mounted or bottom-mounted agitators | Variable-speed control | Jacketed heating/cooling | PLC automation (optional)
  • Applications: Beer blending, wine blending, juice formulation, cold brew coffee dilution, syrup mixing, dairy beverage preparation

Specialty Tanks (Custom Configurations)

Tailored Solutions for Unique Applications

  • Fermentation Tanks: Conical bottom design for yeast harvesting (beer, wine, cider, kombucha)
  • Bright Beer Tanks: Horizontal tanks for carbonation and clarification
  • Jacketed Tanks: Multi-zone heating/cooling for precise temperature control
  • Pressurized Tanks: Up to 3 bar pressure rating for carbonated beverages or nitrogen infusion
  • Insulated Tanks: Polyurethane or rock wool insulation for hot/cold storage

Storage Tank vs Blending Tank Comparison

Both tank types available in SUS304/316L, with optional CIP cleaning, insulation, and pressure rating

Feature

Storage Tank

Blending Tank

Primary Function

Passive liquid holding

Active mixing and blending

Agitator/Mixer

Not included

Integrated agitator (top or bottom-mounted)

Typical Applications

Finished product storage, raw material holding

Formulation, ingredient dissolving, batch preparation

Temperature Control

Optional jacketed heating/cooling

Optional jacketed heating/cooling

Capacity Range

200L-50,000L

100L-50,000L

Process Role

Intermediate or final storage

Pre-processing and formulation

Engineering Features for Consistent Cider Quality

SUS304 Stainless Steel

Standard food-grade material for most applications (beer, wine, juice, water)

SUS316L Stainless Steel

Upgraded material for highly acidic liquids (kombucha, cider, vinegar) or saltwater applications

≤0.4μm Surface Finish

Pharmaceutical-grade polishing prevents bacterial growth and simplifies cleaning

Vertical Tanks

Space-efficient design for facilities with limited floor space (most common for 200L-5,000L)

Horizontal Tanks

Lower profile for facilities with height restrictions or for carbonation applications (bright beer tanks)

Conical Bottom

Facilitates sediment removal and complete drainage (fermentation tanks, blending tanks)

Flat Bottom

Standard design for storage tanks without sediment concerns

Temperature Control System (Optional)

Jacketed Tanks:

  • Heating Jacket: Steam or hot water circulation for dissolving sugars, warming liquids, or pasteurization (60-90°C)
  • Cooling Jacket: Glycol or chilled water circulation for cold storage, fermentation, or temperature-sensitive products (2-15°C)
  • Multi-Zone Jackets: 2-3 independent zones for precise temperature gradients (fermentation tanks)

 

Insulation:

  • Polyurethane Foam: 50-80mm insulation reduces heat loss/gain and energy consumption by 30-40%
  • Rock Wool: High-temperature insulation for hot storage applications (80-100°C)

Blending Tank Agitator Systems

Agitator Types:

  • Top-Mounted Agitators: Most common design, accessible for maintenance, suitable for low to medium viscosity liquids
  • Bottom-Mounted Agitators: Prevents surface foaming, ideal for carbonated or oxygen-sensitive liquids
  • Side-Entry Agitators: Space-saving design for large tanks (10,000L+)

 

Impeller Options:

  • Propeller: Axial flow, ideal for low-viscosity liquids (water, juice, beer)
  • Paddle: Radial flow, suitable for medium-viscosity liquids (syrups, sauces)
  • Turbine: High-shear mixing for emulsions or suspensions (dairy, cosmetics)

 

Speed Control: Variable-speed drives (VFD) for precise mixing intensity (50-500 RPM)

 

CIP Cleaning System

Automated Cleaning:

  • Spray Ball Coverage: 360° rotating or fixed spray balls ensure complete interior cleaning
  • CIP Cycle: Alkaline wash (caustic) → water rinse → acid wash (optional) → final rinse → sanitizer
  • Water Recovery: Recirculation system reduces water consumption by 40-50%

Cleaning Cycle Time: 45-60 minutes per tank (vs. 2-3 hours manual cleaning)

Complete Cider Production Process

Step 1

Apple Selection & Crushing (2-4 hours)

•Wash and sort apples (remove damaged or rotten fruit)
•Crush apples using maceration tanks to create apple pomace
•Optional: Blend different apple varieties for desired flavor profile

Step 2

Apple Selection & Crushing (2-4 hours)

•Press pomace using pneumatic or mechanical presses
•Achieve 70-80% juice yield (500 kg apples = 350-400L juice)
•Optional: Pasteurize juice (75-80°C for 15 minutes) to eliminate wild yeast

Step 3

Apple Selection & Crushing (2-4 hours)

•Transfer juice to fermentation tanks
•Inoculate with cider yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae or specialized cider strains)
•Monitor temperature (12-20°C) and specific gravity daily
•Fermentation complete when specific gravity stabilizes (typically 1.000-1.005)

Step 4

Secondary Fermentation (7-14 days, optional)

•Transfer cider to secondary vessels
•Add flavor infusions (berries, hops, spices) or age for complexity
•Natural carbonation (bottle conditioning) or forced carbonation (1.8-2.5 volumes CO2)
•Monitor pressure and carbonation levels

Step 5

Apple Selection & Crushing (2-4 hours)

•Remove yeast sediment and particulates using filtration system
•Transfer to bright tanks for carbonation adjustment
•Bottle, can, or keg for distribution

Step 6

Apple Selection & Crushing (2-4 hours)

•Automated CIP cleaning with food-grade sanitizers
•Sanitize tanks between batches to prevent contamination

ZPET Stainless Steel Tanks in Commercial Production

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FAQ

Can stainless steel tanks be used outdoors?

Yes, with proper insulation and weather protection. SUS304 suitable for most climates; SUS316L recommended for coastal/saltwater environments

20-30 years with proper maintenance and cleaning. Stainless steel does not rust or degrade like carbon steel or plastic tanks.

Jackets can be added to existing tanks (requires welding and pressure testing). Agitators can be retrofitted if tank has adequate structural support. Contact ZPET for feasibility assessment

Material certification (SUS304/316L), pressure vessel certification (if pressurized), and health department approval (varies by country).

Start Your Stainless Steel Tank Project with ZPET

Ready to upgrade your liquid handling infrastructure? ZPET’s stainless steel tanks provide the durability, hygiene, and versatility you need for reliable commercial operations.

  • Free Consultation: Discuss your application and receive tank recommendations
  • Custom Proposal: Detailed tank specifications, layout design, and pricing
  • Turnkey Installation: Manufacturing, shipping, installation, and operator training

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