Wirehooder

Wirehooder

A wirehooder is an automatic machine that distributes and ties wire cages (muselets) onto sparkling wine bottles, securing the mushroom cork against internal pressure. Production capacity ranges from a few thousand bottles per hour for small wineries to over 50,000 bottles/hour for industrial operations.

Wire-hooding machines are fully automatic, designed for picking and distributing metal wire cages of various sizes and configurations. Despite sophisticated high-speed mechanisms, operation remains straightforward for technical operators.

How Wirehooders Work

The wirehooding process follows a controlled sequence:

1. Bottle infeed — auger controls arriving bottles from conveyor belt
2. Phasing — synchronizes bottle position with rotary carousel revolution
3. Cage application — multi-head carousel positions wire cage over cork
4. Tying — electronic controls secure cage to bottle
5. Discharge — finished bottles exit to downstream equipment

Control Systems

Wirehooder operation is managed by integrated PLC control with inverters located in the electrical panel:

• Photocells at inlet — detect bottle presence for smooth flow control
• Photocells at outlet — monitor discharge (overflow detection)
• Electronic presence checking — verifies bottle at each station
• Synchronized operation — coordinates all machine functions

Wirehooder Configurations

Configuration selection depends on:

• Container type — bottle shape and dimensions
• Speed requirements — production volume targets
• Bottle size — affects equipment pitch settings

Wire Cage Specifications

Wirehooders accommodate metal wire cages with varying:

• Sizes — matched to bottle neck and cork dimensions
• Consistencies — wire gauge and material specifications
• Configurations — standard or custom designs

Construction

Like most winemaking machinery, wirehooders feature:

• Full stainless steel construction
• CE-compliant safety protections
• Accident prevention guards according to regulations

System Complexity

Wire cage application systems vary in complexity based on production speed:

• Simple systems — lower speeds, basic cage application
• Complex systems — high-speed industrial production with multi-head carousels and advanced synchronization