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Viega ProPress systems allow
smooth transition from existing
lines to new nitrogen line at
Sutter Home Winery
®
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: S t. H e le
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Sutter Home Winery, Inc., of St. Helena, CA, is the fourth-largest
privately held winery in the U.S., producing approximately 18
million cases of wine every year. They offer 28 different labels
and ship all over the world. When they needed to update their
existing bottling line, they chose to install Viega ProPress
for stainless.
David Sneed has worked Sutter Home Winery’s maintenance
for 17 years. Sneed selected Viega ProPress for stainless based
on previous projects using Viega ProPress for copper tubing at
the winery.
“We had been using Viega ProPress with copper tubing in
the smaller sizes,” Sneed said. “We did one fairly substantial
upgrade to a hot water system with 4" Viega ProPress. Most
applications have been for water, air and nitrogen systems.”
For the upgrade of the bottling line, which was a nitrogen
application, Sutter Home chose to install Viega ProPress
stainless steel pipe on a 2" line that runs from the bulk nitrogen
system to Sutter Home’s four bottling lines.
Viega ProPress systems use press fittings to make water-tight
and air-tight connections for copper and stainless steel. The
systems are comprised of valves and fittings in sizes ½" to
4". Viega ProPress for stainless also includes stainless steel
pipe. They make quick, secure connections without welding,
threading or grooving. The patented Smart Connect® feature, on
all Viega ProPress systems, ensures leak-free connections.
“
The fact that we don’t need to have an
exposed flame around our buildings or
the alcohol is a big benefi t for us.
”
“We decided to use stainless also because when the lines enter
into the bottling area, we switch to stainless steel for sanitary
reasons,” Sneed said.
Along with the Viega ProPress for stainless steel fittings and
piping, Sneed’s maintenance team also installed Viega’s
transition fittings to easily adapt the new pressed line to the
existing line.
“That was no problem,” Sneed said. “We came in on a weekend,
cut the existing section in, then inserted the transition fitting and
away we went. We ran all the lines ahead of time and tied it into
the current system in a couple of hours.”
For this particular application, Sneed explained that the majority of the
project took place 10-to-15 feet above the floor with suspended pipe.
“The fact that we didn’t have to bring in welders to weld the
stainless steel was a huge savings,” Sneed said. “We could get the
pipe in 20-foot lengths. We did over 400 feet and we did the project
in three days. It would have taken well over a couple of weeks if we
had used traditional pipe joining methods on this project.”
Sneed first learned about Viega ProPress from an installation at
another winery project. The contractors at that site used Viega
ProPress exclusively on the hot water systems and the air systems.
Shortly afterward, the local Viega district manager came to
Sutter Home for a visit.
“He loaned us a tool and said to try it,” Sneed said. “I had a
small project, so we bought some fittings and we tried it. And
my team fell in love with Viega ProPress. The systems are
simple and save a lot of time.”
Sutter Home purchased two press tools and uses Viega
ProPress systems on a regular basis. The maintenance team
at the winery is able to do live repairs using the system,
without having to do a full shut down.
“We just finished the installation of a brand-new bottling
line here at this facility,” Sneed said. “It is completely Viega
ProPress for nitrogen, air and water. And we’re getting ready
to install a second line.”
Sutter Home has also used Viega ProPress systems to install
a wastewater treatment system and emergency eye wash
stations at its St. Helena location. Viega ProPress systems are
also being installed in a new Sutter Home facility in Lodi, CA.
Sneed also believes that Sutter Home’s relationship with their Viega
district manager has been of great benefit to their company.
“He got us to the right distributor and supported us when we’ve
been rushed on a project,” Sneed said. “He’s been able to help us
get the right resources so we can move forward. He checks in with
us frequently to see how we’re doing.”
Sneed said that he will never go back to traditional pipe joining
methods now that he has experienced the time savings of Viega
ProPress systems. The complete ease and safety of the system is
the most convincing reason to install it.
“We are just very pleased with the product,” Sneed said. “And we
continue to use it every day.”
For more information on Viega ProPress, visit
www.ViegaProPress.us or call toll free: 800-976-9819.
“It’s phenomenal,” Sneed said. “In my mind, it’s 10 times
faster, as well as safer. We like the safety benefits. We’re
working in a lot of areas like attics or under structures or in
close proximity to buildings. The fact that we don’t need to
have an exposed flame around our buildings or the alcohol
is a big benefit for us.”
©2012 Viega