One of Vincent’s more popular screw presses is the Model KP-16. Since its introduction in 1996, over one hundred have been built. Originally intended for applications with high freeness and capacity requirements, the presses have grown into high-torque machines being used in tough applications. At the same time, most of the economies of the original design have been retained.

The first prototype KP-16 was used at Cargill’s Frostproof citrus feedmill. It was used in the first pressing position, removing the “easy” liquid from orange peel. The press worked so well that the downstream “hard squeeze” presses tripped out on overload! Shortly afterward, two KP-16’s were installed at Tropicana Ft. Pierce for first pressing duty. The generation of press liquor increased so much that their Waste Heat Evaporator (WHE), which makes the press liquor into citrus molasses, was overwhelmed. In both cases, the KP-16’s had to be removed from service.

Since that time Louis Dreyfus and Citrus Belle have installed KP-16’s for first pressing in their citrus feedmills. The Louis Dreyfus project, in Indiantown, Florida, has worked especially well. The dewatering capacity of their KP-16’s allowed a Stord press to be removed from service, saving 250 hp.

The original prototype at Cargill was put into service dewatering pulp wash. This material is quite slippery. However the press was successful in removing pulp, thus reducing the load on downstream finishers. The finishers have finer screens, and they remove fiber from press liquor.

In recent years Vincent has quoted a number of citrus feedmill projects. We have recommended that Series KP presses be used for first pressing because of their economical construction and high capacity. At the same time, the traditional VP, or newer TSP, presses are recommended for second pressing.

With the season which has just started, a new citrus application is being developed. KP-16’s have been installed in Florida for dewatering core wash. Two versions of the press are being used, and both are operating in full-time service. Changes made include adding notches to the screw to improve screen wiping characteristics. The rotating cone feature has increased capacity and reduced channeling. Also, wider screen slots have proven advantageous, although this allows more pulp into the press liquor. (Downstream finishers remove this pulp.)