Quick answer: Filter press cloths are fixed to the plate in three main ways: barrel neck (two panels joined by a fabric tube through the centre feed hole — the standard for chamber and membrane plates), latex edge (a rubber bead sealed into a groove around the plate — for leak-free service), and drape-over (a single sheet hung over the top bar — for plate-and-frame and corner-feed plates). Match the fixing to your plate’s feed design first; fibre and permeability come second.
Key figures at a glance
- Barrel neck: fits centre-feed recessed and membrane plates, neck diameter typically 60–120 mm to match the feed hole
- Latex edge: perimeter bead 8–15 mm wide seated in a plate groove; best leak control, slower to change
- Drape-over: one sheet, fastest change, relies on plate pressure alone to seal
- Fixing aids: ties, Velcro strips, plastic snaps, cloth dogs or spring clips on the corners
- A wrong neck size or edge profile leaks even with the right fibre and micron rating
Why the fixing method matters as much as the fabric
Most buyers choose filter cloth by fibre and micron rating and then discover the cloth leaks or will not seat. That is almost always a fixing problem: the cloth does not seal the feed passage, does not sit flat in the plate recess, or shifts when the press closes. The three fixing systems below are decided by the plate design, not by the slurry, so check the plate first.
Barrel neck (tube neck) cloth
A barrel neck cloth is two square panels sewn to a fabric tube. The tube is pushed through the plate’s centre feed hole, one panel covers each face of the plate, and the corners are tied, snapped or Velcro-fastened. Because the slurry enters through the tube, it cannot bypass the cloth into the filtrate. This is the standard fixing on recessed-chamber and membrane plates from 630 mm to 2000 mm, and the design most mining, chemical and municipal presses use.
What to specify: neck diameter to match the feed hole (a few millimetres of interference so it seals), neck length equal to plate thickness plus allowance, and whether the neck is a plain tube or has a reinforced collar. Neck wear is the usual end-of-life point on abrasive slurries, so ask for a reinforced neck on mining cloths.
Latex edge (gasketed) cloth
A latex edge cloth has a rubber or latex bead sewn or bonded around its perimeter. When the press closes, the bead seats in a groove machined into the plate and forms a gasket, so filtrate cannot weep between plates and the cloth cannot creep. It is chosen where drips are unacceptable — pharmaceutical, food, fine chemical, precious-metal or hazardous slurries — and on some membrane presses where the squeeze would otherwise lift a loose cloth.
The trade-off is time: latex edge cloths take longer to fit, cost more, and the bead can harden or crack with hot or solvent-laden slurries. Specify the bead width and profile from the plate groove, and the fibre from the chemistry.
Drape-over cloth
A drape-over cloth is a single long sheet hung over the top bar of the plate so it covers both faces. It has no neck and no bead; the plate closing pressure holds and seals it. It is the fastest to change and the cheapest to make, and it is standard on plate-and-frame presses and on recessed plates with corner or side feed. Its weakness is that it relies entirely on closing pressure, so it is not the choice for high-pressure membrane squeeze or where leaks matter.
Comparison table
| Fixing method | Plate type | Sealing | Change time | Typical duty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barrel neck | Centre-feed recessed and membrane plates | Good — neck seals feed passage | Medium | Mining, chemical, municipal sludge, most industrial presses |
| Latex edge | Grooved plates, plate-and-frame, some membrane | Best — perimeter gasket | Slow | Pharma, food, fine chemical, hazardous or valuable slurry |
| Drape-over | Plate-and-frame, corner/side-feed recessed plates | Basic — closing pressure only | Fast | Small presses, frequent cloth changes, low-pressure duty |
How to order the right pattern
Send the plate size, plate thickness, feed-hole diameter and position, filtrate port positions and the current fixing method — or simply an old cloth as a pattern. With that, the cloth is cut, sewn and, if needed, necked or latex-edged to fit; fibre and permeability are then chosen from the slurry data. See custom filter cloth for the sewing options, the micron rating guide for permeability, and when to replace filter press cloth for wear signs.
Buyer FAQ
What is a barrel neck filter cloth?
A barrel neck (also called a tube neck or feed-neck) cloth is a pair of cloth panels joined by a fabric tube that passes through the plate’s centre feed hole. The tube seals the feed passage so slurry cannot bypass the cloth. It is the standard fixing for recessed-chamber and membrane plates with centre feed.
When is a latex edge cloth used?
A latex-edged (or caulked/gasketed) cloth has a rubber or latex bead sewn or bonded around the perimeter that seals into a groove in the plate. It is used when leak-free sealing matters more than fast cloth changes — for example fine, valuable or hazardous slurries — and is common on plate-and-frame and some membrane presses.
Can I change from drape-over to barrel neck cloth on my press?
Only if the plate has a centre feed hole and a matching neck seat. Drape-over cloths hang over the top bar of plates with corner or side feed; barrel neck cloths need the centre feed design. Send a plate drawing or photo and we confirm which patterns fit.
How do I measure my plate for a replacement cloth?
Record the plate’s outside dimensions, the feed-hole diameter and position, plate thickness, the filtrate outlet positions (corner ports) and how the old cloth is fixed (ties, Velcro, latex edge, neck). An old cloth sent as a pattern is the most reliable way to get an exact match.
This article is part of our guide to filter press cloth.