Güde OP 18 Manual Fruit Press – 18 Litre Maximum Capacity, Steel Spindle, Professional Vertical Build
The OP 18 is the top-of-the-range manual fruit press designed for high-volume fruit pressing: 18-litre pressing basket capacity — the LARGEST in the Güde line — sturdy steel spindle with vertical crank handle, untreated natural wood for a genuine artisan look, maximum output over continuous cycles, professional-grade 12.8 kg build, and an imposing 700 mm height.
Who the Güde OP 18 press is for
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Profile
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Suitable?
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Why
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Large fruit grower (300–800 trees)
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Ideal
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Maximum 18 L capacity, output of 90 kg fruit/day, maximum continuous cycles, premium wood aesthetics, robust 12.8 kg build lasting 15+ years
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Large agritourism business (150–300 guests)
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Ideal
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18 L capacity for continuous sessions of 50–60 people, maximum output with fast cycles, 700 mm height for spectacular, imposing presentation
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Large professional cooperative / dairy
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Ideal
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18 L capacity for continuous daily production cycles, food-contact coating with EU certification for high volumes, sturdy steel spindle for maximum continuous cycles
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Not recommended for: small-scale hobbyists (<100 trees) — the OP 6 is the better fit (sufficient capacity, lower weight); workshops with less than 2.5 m of vertical space (the 700 mm height requires clearance); continuous cycles of 10+ hours (the spindle is built to take it, but the operator will tire).
Technical specifications — Güde OP 18 Manual Fruit Press
Drive and pressing
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Parameter
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Value
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Drive type
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Manual mechanical, heavy-duty steel spindle
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Spindle
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Maximum-gauge steel (pressing fulcrum for maximum force)
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Crank handle
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Included, manual vertical lever rotation
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Crossbars
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2 steel pieces
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Pressing plate
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Set of 2 pieces
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Cast nut
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Adjustable, depth control
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Capacity and filtration
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Parameter
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Value
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Pressing basket capacity
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18 litres (LARGEST in the Güde line)
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Basket diameter
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250 mm
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Filter cloth
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Hard-wearing polyester (included)
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Collection basin
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With feet, Ø 370 mm, capacity approx. 15–18 L
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Construction and materials
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Parameter
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Value
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Wood
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Untreated (natural artisan look)
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Coating on internal surfaces
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Food contact (EU certified for maximum volume)
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Basin
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Finished with food-safe coating
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Dimensions and weight
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Parameter
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Value
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Length
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385 mm
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Width
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380 mm
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Height
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700 mm (MAXIMUM, imposing vertical build)
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Net weight
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12.8 kg (maximum professional sturdiness)
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Gross weight (packaging)
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14.2 kg
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Compliance
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Parameter
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Value
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Marking
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CE – Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC
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GTIN
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4015671300058
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What's in the box
- Güde OP 18 fruit press (pre-assembled)
- Maximum-gauge steel spindle (fitted)
- Manual vertical crank handle (included)
- 18-litre pressing basket (included)
- Large collection basin with feet (included)
- Hard-wearing polyester filter cloth (included)
- Pressing plate, set of 2 pieces (included)
- 2 steel crossbars (included)
- Adjustable cast nut (included)
- User manual
- CE declaration of conformity
- Güde international warranty
Frequently asked questions
1. OP 18 vs OP 12 vs OP 6: which should I choose, and how do capacity and output compare?
The hierarchy is clear: OP 6 = 6 L, OP 12 = 12 L (double), OP 18 = 18 L (triple the OP 6). Over the same working day (6 hours), the OP 18 extracts the MOST juice (60–90 litres, versus 40–60 litres for the OP 12 and 20–30 litres for the OP 6). For small-scale hobbyists (<50 trees), the OP 6 is the right fit (lighter at 5 kg, ample capacity). For mid-sized professionals (100–300 trees), the OP 12 is ideal (the best balance of capacity and weight). For LARGE professional operations (300+ trees) or cooperatives, the OP 18 is essential (maximum output, with ROI in 2–3 months of production).
2. Does the 700 mm height cause stability problems in the workshop?
Stability isn't an issue — the height is an ergonomic choice. The 700 mm is distributed over a 385 × 380 mm base, giving stable surface pressure (approx. 87 g/cm² on the bench). A sturdy wood or steel bench (a professional workshop table, for instance) easily supports 12.8 kg plus cyclical pressing loads. The 700 mm height is actually an ADVANTAGE for the operator (natural arm posture, clear view of the collection basin, optimal gravity drainage). The only requirement: at least 2.5 m of free vertical clearance in the workshop (not suitable for low-ceilinged rooms).
3. Is the OP 18's 12.8 kg weight hard to handle?
Handling is not a problem. 12.8 kg is a standard bench-top weight (comparable to a professional microwave). The OP 18 is positioned once during setup and doesn't move while pressing. The operator only grips the vertical crank handle — no lifting involved, just manual rotation. Moving it around the workshop (for annual cleaning, say) is a two-person job for safety, but that isn't a frequent operation.
4. Is the 60–90 litres per day output realistic?
Yes, it is realistic. Thirty 18-litre cycles come to 540 litres in theory, but fruit is not 100% juice — residual pulp accounts for around 30–40% of the weight. In practice: 300 kg of fruit yields roughly 80–100 litres of pure juice (a yield of about 27–33%). Thirty cycles a day on the OP 18 at 80–90 litres of output is the realistic daily MAXIMUM, breaks included.
5. Is the Ø 370 mm collection basin big enough for the OP 18's maximum capacity?
Yes, it is. At roughly 15–18 L, the basin covers 1–1.5 full 18-litre cycles. In practice, the operator presses load 1 while the basin fills; once load 1 is pressed the basin is full, gets emptied into bottles, and the cycle starts again. The most efficient workflow rotates 2–3 basins (one collecting, the other two in storage or being cleaned).
6. Which fruit is suitable for the OP 18's maximum capacity?
The same as the OP 6 / OP 12: apples, pears, peaches, apricots and grapes are ideal (sweet fruit with high juice content). Less suitable: hard fruit such as cherries and medlars (a manual spindle is limited by human pressing force). Recommended: mix soft and hard fruit for a good balance. Avoid: rotten or mouldy fruit (risk of biological contamination).
