CDE introduces its high-performance ProPress filter press to Hillhead

CDE, a leader in the design and engineering of wet sand and aggregate processing solutions for the waste recycling and natural minerals processing sectors, unveiled its new ProPress high-efficiency filter press at the show Hillin the UK, complementing its state-of-the-art water management and recycling systems.

Developed to meet the evolving needs of the construction and demolition waste recycling, quarrying and mining sectors, ProPress combines the latest technological advances to deliver exceptional operational efficiency and maximum water recovery, according to the company.

Using patent-pending technology, CDE’s ProPress features a flexible design and variable performance that can be scaled to match the processing volume of any operation.

Unlike traditional filter presses, the system is dual-fed, meaning sludge is fed from both sides of the ProPress, resulting in improved efficiency and faster cycle times. Optimized sludge feed pressure also allows for faster dewatering, which increases overall throughput, CDE says. This is further supported by the suspended beam design, which ensures reliability by reducing the stress on the device and improving its durability.

According to the company, the ProPress features plates that are 25% larger (2.5 m x 2 m), and the larger chamber volume and fewer plates provide maximum efficiency in a smaller footprint and reduce mechanical cycle times.

Safe and efficient maintenance is made possible by integrated plate shake technology, which prevents filter cake build-up in the chambers, helping to reduce the need for manual intervention. The walkway provides a clear and obstruction-free means to perform maintenance safely and efficiently, and flush-mount drip trays prevent material from retaining and lock in place, providing operators with a safe maintenance platform, CDE says.

The project is supported by an innovative, multi-functional robot that serves as the main workhorse for ProPress, controlling plate opening, plate shaking, fabric washing, plate winching and maintenance platform.

CDE ProPress is available in a variety of sizes to suit markets and applications. It is also largely pre-assembled to speed up commissioning and enable operators to get started quickly.

ProPress process

When washing and sorting materials, the water generated in the process collects silt and other residues, forming sediment. The material is difficult to process because the sludge is pumped at high pressure into the CDE ProPress, which consists of a sequence of plates composed of a series of chambers.

As the sludge is pumped at high pressure through the press, solids accumulate in the chambers, creating a filter cake that is dewatered to maximize water recycling and recover the by-product for multiple uses.

With CDE ProPress, owners and operators can recycle up to 95% of process water for immediate reuse in their treatment plants, while lowering waste disposal fees by recovering filter cake, which can be used to backfill pipes and fill landfills, according to CDE. This eliminates the need to create settling tanks, which typically require extensive maintenance, consume labor resources, and incur significant costs.

CDE business development director Darren Eastwood said: “Our expertise is in dealing with the most difficult materials. We have put over 30 years of engineering excellence into the development of ProPress. We have listened to our customers around the world and worked with them to design a solution that can be tailored to their needs, whether they are in the waste recycling or natural minerals processing sector.

“These needs were clear: sustainable water management was key to minimizing freshwater dependence and maximizing water recycling, all while improving processing efficiency, reducing operating costs and minimizing maintenance downtime. ProPress is our answer to all this and more and is already delivering to our customers. By the end of the year, ProPress will be found in eight plants in three regions, processing approximately 1,000 tons of material per hour.

“ProPress, our most important product launch in recent years, truly captures CDE’s purpose: to create our best world, one ton at a time. This means constantly striving to improve to make our equipment, our customers’ operations and the sectors in which we operate more efficient and less wasteful. We are very pleased to finally be able to bring this latest innovation to a wider market to help maximize the availability of our natural resources and reduce the waste burden on the industry.

Hillhead 2024 takes place in Buxton, UK and will run from June 25 to 27.