Filter Press

A filter press is an industrial machine used in ceramics to convert clay slurry into plastic clay by separating solids from liquids. It consists of a series of plates covered with filter cloths; ceramic slurry is pumped into the chambers between the plates, and as pressure increases, water passes through the filter cloth while clay particles remain trapped inside. The device turns a slurry with 30 to 40 percent solids content into a stiff clay cake suitable for further processing through a pugmill, operating through repeated cycles of filling, pressurizing, opening, and removing the cake. Filter presses originated in the late 1800s and had become standard in ceramic production by the early 20th century, and despite advances in automation they remain widely used in clay plants worldwide for their effectiveness and cost efficiency.