Particulate filter washing machines look alike in photos, but they differ a lot in what matters for everyday work. These are the seven criteria to look at, in order of importance.
1. Which filters you will work on
This question decides everything else. Car and van filters fit in a compact chamber; truck, bus, tractor and earth-moving machine filters need a large chamber, a platform or lifting system and more heating power. Think about the filters you see today and the ones you want to go after.
2. How many filters a day
With a few filters a week a simple cycle is enough. With regular volumes, cycle automation, washing and drying in parallel and a tank that does not need changing too often all count.
3. Drying
The filter must be completely dry before the final measurement and refitting. Built-in hot-air drying shortens the time and frees the filter sooner; compressed-air drying is simpler and cheaper but lengthens the cycle. If you wash many filters, this is the criterion with the biggest impact on daily capacity.
4. Measurement and documentation
Measuring back-pressure before and after washing is the quality check on your work. A printed report for the customer turns that measurement into a sales argument, especially with workshops that send you their filters.
5. Filtration and water management
Tank filters and external cartridge and bag filters trap residue and let you reuse the water for longer. Fewer water changes mean less special waste to dispose of and a lower cost per filter.
6. Controls and cycles
Simple analogue controls are enough to get started. A PLC with touch screen allows different programmes per filter type, automatic and manual cycles, temperature and time control and, on the most complete machines, remote monitoring. For connected machines, check possible capital-goods incentives with your accountant.
7. Space, utilities and support
Check footprint, power supply (three-phase or single-phase), compressed air and water point before ordering. Then ask who installs, who trains your staff, how long a spare part takes and who steps in if the machine stops: downtime with customers’ filters waiting costs more than any price difference.
Which machine profile for which workshop
| Profile | What you need | Example in the FB range |
|---|---|---|
| Workshop starting out, cars only | Compact machine, automatic cycle, simple controls | DPF Clean FB-X1 |
| Workshop or centre with cars and vans and regular volumes | PLC with touch screen, hot-air drying, before/after report | DPF Clean FB-X2 |
| Regeneration centre, including heavy and agricultural vehicles | Large chamber, platform, dual heating, two-stage filtration | DPF Clean FB-X3 |