A filter press is one of the oldest and most reliable types of dewatering equipment, widely used in wastewater treatment across various industries. Its primary function is to separate solids from liquids, removing impurities and suspended particles from industrial wastewater. This process allows for easier waste handling and enables clean water to be returned to the system.
Filter presses operate by using pressure filtration across a filter media. Slurry is pumped into the press and dewatered under pressure, separating the liquid (filtrate) from the solids (cake).
| Component | Role |
|---|---|
| Frame | Supports the entire system. |
| Filter plates | Provide the structure for holding the filter cloth and forming the dewatering chambers. |
| Manifold | Includes piping and valves for slurry distribution and filtrate removal. |
| Filter cloth | Essential for optimizing performance and capturing solids. |
The design and size of a filter press depend on the volume and type of slurry being treated. ChemREADY offers a wide range of press types and capacities tailored to specific application needs.
The filter press originated in the mid-19th century in the United Kingdom and was initially used to extract vegetable oil. Significant technological developments in the mid-20th century led to the automatic horizontal-type filter press. Today’s modern designs offer significantly lower energy and maintenance costs than belt presses or centrifuges, with operational costs as low as one-sixth of those alternatives.
High-capacity presses often feature automatic plate shifters to speed up the process. Matec designs presses for fully automated, 24-hour operation, even in harsh environments like mines and chemical plants.
Slurry characteristics, solids loading, cycle time targets, and cloth selection all determine whether a filter press will perform for your application.
Filter presses are especially valued because the dewatered solids (filter cake) are easier and cheaper to handle than untreated slurry. Clean water recovered from the process can be discharged to local municipalities or reused in a closed-loop system.
Common applications include:
Compared to settling ponds, which require large space and ongoing maintenance, filter presses are a more efficient long-term solution. Settling ponds accumulate solids over time and lose effectiveness, requiring dredging or replacement.
Industries that benefit from filter presses include:
Filter presses can be tailored to individual needs with options such as:
High-pressure systems (21–30 bar) like those from Matec improve performance for even the most difficult slurries.
Filter presses work best with slurries containing 50–60% solids. For lower solids content (5–10%), a clarifier should be used first. Clarifiers help concentrate solids via gravity and polymer flocculation before they reach the press.
| Clarifier type | How it works |
|---|---|
| Vertical Deep Cone | Uses natural sedimentation. |
| Horizontal Rake Style | Uses mechanical rakes to stir and settle solids. |
ChemREADY provides comprehensive support for water treatment systems. Our team evaluates water chemistry to determine optimal chemical treatments (flocculants, coagulants, pH balancers) that work in tandem with mechanical systems like clarifiers and filter presses.
Matec presses offer unique benefits:
Whether you’re a small business or a large industrial operation, ChemREADY can help you implement a complete and cost-effective dewatering solution. Read our useful Water Facts blog Can my Small Operation Afford a Filter Press? to learn more.
A filter press is one of the oldest and most reliable types of dewatering equipment, widely used in wastewater treatment across various industries. Its primary function is to separate solids from liquids, removing impurities and suspended particles from industrial wastewater.
Slurry is pumped into the press and distributed evenly. Solids accumulate on the filter cloth, forming a “cake” within the plate chambers. Clean water exits through the filter plates via designated ports. Once the chambers are full, the filtration cycle ends, and the cake is released.
The main components of a filter press are the frame, which supports the entire system; the filter plates, which hold the filter cloth and form the dewatering chambers; the manifold, which includes piping and valves for slurry distribution and filtrate removal; and the filter cloth, which captures solids.
Filter presses work best with slurries containing 50–60% solids. For lower solids content (5–10%), a clarifier should be used first. Clarifiers help concentrate solids via gravity and polymer flocculation before they reach the press. When used together, clarifiers and filter presses can recover up to 95% of process water.
Today’s modern filter press designs offer significantly lower energy and maintenance costs than belt presses or centrifuges, with operational costs as low as one-sixth of those alternatives. Settling ponds require large space and ongoing maintenance, accumulate solids over time, and lose effectiveness, requiring dredging or replacement.
Industries that benefit from filter presses include food and beverage, chemicals, mining and aggregates, power generation, asphalt and cement, steel production, and municipal water treatment.
Estimate what cake solids, cycle time, and polymer dose are costing you now, and what getting back to baseline would save.
A ChemREADY dewatering specialist can run the jar tests and cycle study with your team and set the numbers your operators should track.
Ben Frieders writes WaterFACTS for ChemREADY.
Technically reviewed by the ChemREADY dewatering team. Last reviewed July 2026.