Project Brief

DW Continuous Multi-Layer SUS304 Mesh-Belt Tunnel Dryers for Food

Automate high-tonnage dehydration of sliced vegetables, fruits, herbs, cassava, and pet treats at 200–1,500+ kg/h on 3-to-5 layer stainless mesh-belt dryers.

Replacing Manual Tray Labor on High-Tonnage Produce & Pet Lines

Drying 800 kg/hour of diced carrots, sliced onions, apple rings, or extruded pet treats in batch cabinets would keep six workers loading and unloading trays non-stop. Within belt and specialty dryers and commercial food dehydrators, DW multi-layer mesh-belt tunnel dryers spread product automatically onto an upper SUS304 woven/chain mesh belt via an oscillating spreader or inclined feeder.

Product travels across 3, 4, or 5 stacked horizontal passes (1.2 m to 2.4 m belt width, 8 m to 24 m tunnel length), tumbling gently at each drop transfer so every slice dries uniformly before exiting cool ready for packaging.

Six-stage commercial food dehydration and barrier pouch packaging workflow
Uniform slice thickness and post-dryer cooling prevent moisture rebound inside sealed retail pouches.

Multi-Layer Mesh-Belt Dryer Configuration Ranges

Scalable tunnel widths, pass counts, and heat-source options:

Belt Width × Pass Count Effective Drying Area Wet Input Range (Crop Dependent) Heat Source Options
1.2 m × 4 Layers (8–12 m) 38–57 m² 180–400 kg / hour Heat pump, electric, steam, or indirect gas
1.6 m × 5 Layers (10–15 m) 80–120 m² 400–850 kg / hour Steam radiator, indirect gas/biomass, heat pump
2.0 m × 5 Layers (14–20 m) 140–200 m² 850–1,600+ kg / hour Multi-zone steam or indirect natural gas

See complete prep-to-bagger integration on dehydration and packaging lines.

Wet batch and hourly capacity comparison across kitchen cabinets, RXH truck ovens, vacuum dryers, and mesh-belt tunnels
Transition from batch trolley cabinets to multi-layer mesh-belt tunnels once continuous wet feed exceeds 200–300 kg/hour.

Commercial Dehydration Engineering Notes

  • Independent Multi-Zone Thermal Control: Divide the tunnel into 2 to 4 independent temperature and fan-speed zones—high evaporative heat on wet feed, gentle low heat at discharge.
  • VFD Residence-Time Control: Variable-frequency belt drives adjust total residence time continuously from 45 minutes (herbs) to 5+ hours (thick fruit/jerky).
  • Rotary Brush Belt Cleaners & CIP Doors: Continuous belt brushes and full-height insulated side doors keep sugar or starch buildup off mesh links.

Size Your Tunnel Length & Belt Area

Send raw hourly tonnage, initial/final moisture, and plant fuel/steam specs via Project Brief.

Four-stage recirculation and moisture-exhaust damper control inside commercial hot-air tray dryers
Staged exhaust control vents heavy early moisture while recirculating 80–85% of heated air during falling-rate drying.

Explore related equipment in Commercial Food Dehydrators, Airflow & Process Specs, or send your wet-to-dry batch targets via Project Brief.

Related Specifications

Further Reference

Request Project Configuration Review

Share layout constraints, architectural drawings, or throughput targets with Commercial Food Dehydrator Technical Group.

Size My Dehydrator