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Images from China
Hi all, I am launching a small craft distillery and am looking for an affordable 250L to 350L multifunction still.
I have found quite a few suppliers from China, who have provided schematics and information that seems legitimate. I am hoping there is someone who can advise me on a company that provides a high level of quality? I have heard good things about DYE, however their still designs do not appeal to me.
Current options I have found include:
Hooloo Distilling – https://hooloodistill.com/products/200l-crystal-distilliation-equipment-with-bubble-caps-crystal-column
Rain star Ltd – http://rainstarltd.com/product/356258.html
Ace Machinery – https://www.ace-chn.com/Distiller/
HANGZHOU ZHENGJIU MACHINERY MANUFACTURING CO.,LTD – https://tinyurl.com/2p8kvt7v
Any and all advice is greatly appreciated. I am looking to use an oil heated boiler, but have also received an affordable quote for an 18kw steam generator.
Thank you very much!
Malthead
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10 Replies
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I run a DYE works great. Easy to deal customer service as well.
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I can’t help it, I need to say that when I read the line above I thought it said “malfunctioning still”
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Hey there, glad to hear you are looking at joining the business of distilling, I have worked with a few of those manufacturers you mentioned.
The main thing, is making sure you verify the specifications of the equipment to make sure it will work well for you. Which can take a lot more than just a few lines of text on a forum.
If you want to have a discussion check out my website and schedule a consult I would love to talk with you.
KindredSpiritsCSG.com
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Malthead,
So here in the US, code requires that the area around a still be a class 1 division 2 hazardous environment. For the still to meet the requirements of the C1D2 the agitator motor will need to be UL listed as explosion proof and the PRV for your still’s jacket will need to be an ASME section VIII safety valve. From my experience, stills of the suppliers that you list do not have UL listed explosion proof agitator motors so they do not meet the requirements of the C1D2. Also since they do not have ASME rated PRVs on the jacket they do not meet the ASME code requirements.
If the still is electric baine Marie, the electric heating system must have all UL listed components. If the still has an onboard heating system with a pressurized jacket, the still must have a UL device listing for the entire still. I have never seen a still purchased directly from any of these Chinese companies with a UL listing on their agitator motors nor all of the electrical components nor the entire system. Generally the agitator motors on these stills are CE listed as are the electrical components. CE is for the EU and other parts of the world. CE is not good enough for the US and Canada as it is not accepted here for reasons I will not go into. Also many Chinese CE listed parts are counterfeit.
If I were you, I would ask these Chinese companies if they will guarantee that their still meets all US codes and will pass all electrical and safety inspections. Some inspectors will overlook the CE listings but many inspectors go strictly by the codes so you will fail inspection. In some instances, the state will allow you to pay for an engineer to look over your still and deem it safe but that can be very expensive because the engineering firm that signs off on it accepts some liability for it.
Also there is the matter of support, if a problem arises. Most of the companies you list know that you are an end user and therefore most likely a one time buyer and so they do not figure they are losing anything if they don’t help you. Also they are in another country so they won’t send a tech out to fix the problem.
Also you could just flat out get ripped off. I was ripped off for $130,000.00 and tried everything including having a Chinese friend of mine and his wife go to a police station and report it for me the. The Chinese police said that I would have to be there in person to make the report and I could have went to China to do that but after researching it I understood that it would not do any good. I called the FBI and the agent was nice and did what he could but he told me right up front that it would be to no availed because the Chinese government would not help in these cases.
Also many of the Chinese still designs are stolen intellectual property. If that doesn’t bother you than please consider that some companies give the Chinese factories designs that are none functional then they fix the issues once the stills get over here. That is what I have done in the past. You would have no idea what the flaws are if they sell you one of my old designs and I am probably not the only one who does this.
If you are absolutely intent on buying a still directly from the Chinese, DYE is your best bet but their stills cost as much or more than mine and I think you will have to pay shipping from China.
Some have purchased Chinese stills and done okay with them and some have not, but you should know the risks. DYE has distributers in the US and it is my understanding that their support is good. I’m not talking up their stills. I think mine are better. I’m just being truthful.
If you would like a quote and reference list for my equipment please email paul@distillery-equipment.com We have over 500 of our stills in distilleries. We also sell US made steam boilers, US made chillers, mash tuns, fermenters, US made pumps, blending tanks and many other pieces of equipment for distilleries. All of our equipment for distilleries is currently made in the US or assembled in the US and most of it aside from support equipment is designed by me. We design and build our electrical systems in house and our ASME PRVs and UL listed explosion proof agitator motors are American made. We do around 20% of our fabrication in house and we are always pushing to increase the amount of work that we do here. If you would like to talk, call my direct line 417-778-6908 and ask for Paul.
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I’ve got a 200L DYE and I’m in NZ. Haven’t had any issues – they customised it exactly how I wanted it. Shipping was fairly easy and they have good support. I used Mainfrieght as my forwarder. Mine’s a single layer though, so I can’t speak to their double layer stills. Whereabouts are you starting up in NZ?
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Malthead,
Sorry. I didn’t look at your profile so I didn’t know you were from NZ. That being the case some of what I said does not apply. Good luck.
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I hugely appreciate this and will be in touch. Thanks!
The information you provided was incredibly valuable, thank you so much! I have felt a little uneasy about the counterfeit potential with the stills I have listed. I keep coming back to DYE equipment as being the only reliable kit from China.
I would also like to explore the option of stills from the US, Southernhighlander, would you ship to NZ? If so, I will send a quotation request through to the email you have provided. Thanks
Right next door mate
We are basically neighbours here in NZ haha. Jokes aside, I am looking to launch in Otago – premises TBC. I have looked at DYE, however my customer support lady isn’t flash with english and is missing some details I have specified. May I ask who you spoke with so I can progress with them?
Looking forward to coming to Chch to try some ‘Smokin Right Rear’!
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Malthead247. Yes we can ship to NZ. Send us and email and we will get right back to you with a quote.
Thanks.
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Hi, Thanks for your mentioned. Our still designs can be customized per customers’request. And quality is also the most important.
More information please feel free to contact us and give us a chance to quote for you.
B502-2, Binhai Industrial Park, Economic & Technological Development Zone Wenzhou, Zhejiang P.R.China URL: http://www.dayuwz.com Tel: 0086-577-86806088 Fax: 0086-577-86801555 Mobile Phone: 0086-18966261000/13695806632 E-MAIL: info@zjdayu.com or daey017@dayuwz.com Wechart/What’s app/Line: 0086-13695806632 Facebook:307289346@qq.comSkype: adaxuyuan
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Hi, Thanks for your mentioned. Our still designs can be customized per customers’request. And quality is also the most important.
More information please feel free to contact us and give us a chance to quote for you.
B502-2, Binhai Industrial Park, Economic & Technological Development Zone Wenzhou, Zhejiang P.R.China URL: http://www.dayuwz.com Tel: 0086-577-86806088 Fax: 0086-577-86801555 Mobile Phone: 0086-18966261000/13695806632 E-MAIL: info@zjdayu.com or daey017@dayuwz.com Wechart/What’s app/Line: 0086-13695806632 Facebook:307289346@qq.comSkype: adaxuyuan
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