India’s wine industry is currently seeing an unprecedented period of growth, with an estimated production of 18 million litres this year, up from 17 million last year, and reaching 21 million litres by 2018.
Getting the winery design right is critical to meeting the growing demand while also ensuring that the winery complies with the strict production standards of both domestic and international clients.
The floor area is an important aspect of any winery, as if an inadequate finish is chosen then it can become a cracked and ineffective surface that is not only a trip risk but which can also presents a contamination issue.
Traditionally, India’s winery industry has relied on unprotected concrete floors, however this has meant that large sums of money has had to be spent on refurbishing floors when they fail. Concrete is not up to the task at hand because the high alkaline nature of wine means that the floor will face frequent chemical attacks that it is not able to withstand.
Alongside exposure to corrosive chemicals, the floor will also be subjected to wear from heavy foot and forklift traffic, regular steam cleaning, fluctuating moisture levels and point loading from heavy equipment.
In order to withstand all of these factors an easy-to-clean and robust floor coating should be applied, especially in the production and fermentation zones. This requirement has led to an increasing number of wineries specifying specialist resin flooring that is food grade compliant, antimicrobial, highly durable and chemical resistant.
Thick, hardwearing resin floors will maintain a seamless, impervious and colourful finish for an extended period of time. Polyurethane systems are available with bactericidal agents incorporated into the floor’s resin matrix, which are ideal for even the largest and most intensive production areas.
It is important to consider the different flooring properties that will be required in the various zones of a winery. For example, filling and bottling areas will require an anti-slip finish due to the higher likelihood of spillages and wet surfaces while the floor in the tasting room needs to present an attractive appearance to visitors.
To find out more about flooring solutions for a winery why not get in touch with Flowcrete India’s expert team today.