Discharge Presses

Detailed configuration options and specifications for both presses can be found in our technical specification sheet.

Ram presses are designed to feed materials that exceed the practical pumping limits of conventional transfer systems. Products such as silicone sealants, SMPs, MS polymers, polyurethane prepolymers, filled epoxies, structural adhesives, and conductive compounds often exhibit viscosities ranging from 500,000 cP to over 10,000,000 cP, making gravity feeding impractical.

A ram press applies controlled force through a follower plate to generate positive inlet pressure at the pump, ensuring consistent material delivery without cavitation or flow interruptions.

Typical Process Range

• Viscosity: 500,000 to 10,000,000+ cP
• Yield Stress: 50 to 2,000+ Pa
• Solids Content: Up to 95%
• Product Temperature: 15°C to 120°C (59°F to 248°F)

Proper ram press sizing begins with evaluating:

Product Characteristics

• Viscosity
• Yield stress
• Density
• Filler loading
• Temperature sensitivity
• Flow behavior

Production Requirements

• Required discharge rate
• Hours of operation
• Batch size
• Container type

Downstream Equipment Requirements

• Pump inlet pressure
• Metering accuracy requirements
• Dispensing pressure

The system should always be sized based on the highest expected viscosity and lowest operating temperature.

Required ram force depends primarily on follower plate area and desired inlet pressure to the pump.

Basic calculation:

Force = Pressure × Area

Example:

For a 55-gallon drum:

• Drum diameter: 22.5 in
• Follower plate area: 397 in²
• Required product pressure: 60 psi

Required Ram Force:

397 × 60 = 23,820 lb

Approximately:

12 tons of force

Most industrial ram presses are designed with a safety factor of 1.5 to 2.0 times calculated requirements.

Common Hydraulic Ram Capacities

• 5 ton
• 10 ton
• 20 ton
• 30 ton
• 50 ton
• 100+ ton specialty systems

Press plates must create a near-perfect seal against the container wall.

Critical design features include:

Elastomer Seal Options

• Buna-N
• EPDM
• Viton
• PTFE Encapsulated

Construction Materials

• 304 Stainless Steel
• 316 Stainless Steel
• Carbon Steel

Typical Seal Compression

• 0.25 to 0.75 in radial compression

Proper press plate design can increase product recovery from approximately 92% to over 99%.

Discharge rate is driven by production demand.

Typical industry rates include:

Application	Flow Rate
Cartridge filling	0.25 to 5 GPM
Pail filling	1 to 15 GPM
Meter/Mix dispensing	0.1 to 10 GPM
Continuous extrusion	5 to 50 GPM
Composite resin transfer	10 to 100+ GPM

Many adhesives and resins are highly temperature dependent.

Common options include:

Heated Follower Plates

• Electric
• Hot oil
• Steam

Heated Drums

• Drum jackets
• Heating blankets

Typical Operating Temperatures

• Ambient: 20°C to 30°C
• Warm processing: 40°C to 80°C
• Specialty materials: Up to 120°C

Reducing viscosity through controlled heating can improve flow rates while reducing required ram force.

Modern systems often include:

Automation Features

• PLC control
• Recipe management
• Automatic vessel change alerts
• Remote diagnostics
• Ethernet/IP connectivity
• Profinet communication

Measured Process Variables

• Ram position
• Product level
• Pressure
• Flow rate
• Temperature
• Pump speed
• Material usage

A complete specification should define:

Product Data

• Viscosity range
• Density
• Yield stress
• Solids content
• Temperature requirements

Process Data

• Flow rate
• Production schedule
• Batch volume

Container Information

• Diameter
• Height
• Material

Utility Information

• Electrical requirements
• Air supply
• Hydraulic requirements

Performance Targets

• Material recovery %
• Pressure stability
• Automation level
• Cleaning requirements