At Nortap, we understand how important it is for the silicone plug to guarantee a perfect seal with the barrel, as part of the wine’s quality depends on it.
The function of barrels is not just for storage. From an oenological perspective, the main functions of the barrel are to perform the racking or separation of sediments, soften the taste of the wine, and enhance its color. The primary function of Nortap® silicone plugs is to prevent any substance from entering or leaving the barrel without interfering with the wine-making process.
As for the size of the barrel, the standard capacity is usually 225 liters, but when it comes to the mouth size, and therefore the plug size, there is much more diversity. That’s why, when standard plug mouth sizes are not sufficient, we offer a custom manufacturing service for our clients:
When we receive the sample, it is sent to the technical department to create a detailed blueprint with its dimensions/specifications/parts and various customizations (winery logo, vintage, food-grade logo, etc.). Once we have client approval, based on the blueprint, we proceed with the mold manufacturing.
Mold manufacturing for sectors like winemaking, which demand very high-quality standards, is an investment that provides security, guarantees the requirements of the wine-making process, and allows for competitive pricing in plug production.
Once the mold is ready, it’s a matter of coordinating with the sales department on annual schedules and safety stocks, which will help avoid last-minute surprises and allow for the scheduling of exact quantities of plugs to be delivered on specific dates (for example, having the plugs ready when the harvest ends).
With the purchase of the plugs, Nortap provides all the quality documents required by the market, which, in addition to being FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) compliant, also meet the requirements established by the BfR, Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (Federal Institute for Risk Assessment).
These quality certifications help increase our customers’ trust, responding to the growing demands of consumers regarding food quality and safety.
If you have any plug-related needs, we’re here to help. Shall we talk?