Fresh-cut salad processing line with elevator, double vortex washing, dewatering and air drying

Leafy vegetables

Complete Salad Processing Line — Double Vortex Washing System

A fresh-cut salad line built around double vortex washing, with centrifugal dewatering and cold-air drying that keep leaves clean and intact to the pack.

500–800 kg/hReference capacity

2 × vortexWashing stages

Cold-airDrying method

CustomPack integration

Solution overview

Move from raw leaves to clean, dry, pack-ready salad.

Gentle leaf handling starts with double vortex washing: a primary wash followed by a final rinse in a second vortex stage for superior cleanliness.

Combined with continuous centrifugal dewatering and cool air drying, the output is dry and ready for packaging — protecting shelf life without bruising the leaf.

Process flow

Each stage has a clear job in the line.

Vegetable cutting machine shredding whole leafy heads into salad fragments

Optional Preparation for Whole Heads

Cut to Salad Size

When the raw material arrives as whole leafy heads — lettuce, spinach, cabbage — a vegetable cutting machine reduces it to the fragment size the salad recipe needs before washing.

EquipmentVegetable cutting machine (needed only for whole-leaf infeed)
Cut sizeAdjustable cutting size to suit different salad recipes

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Inclined elevator lifting cut salad leaves into the washing section

Infeed to the Wash Section

Elevate the Cut Leaves

The elevator lifts the cut leaves up into the vortex washing section at a controlled, adjustable speed matched to the line capacity.

EquipmentInclined elevator with food-grade belt
SpeedAdjustable feeding speed for different incoming rates

First vortex washing machine tumbling salad leaves 360 degrees in the wash tank

Primary Wash — First Vortex

Main Wash, No Leaf Damage

Natural water power, not mechanics, does the cleaning: leaves tumble 360° inside the vortex tank while the flow washes away soil, dust and small stones — with zero mechanical force, so leaves are never bruised. Integrated vibratory dewatering with high-frequency motors keeps discharge smooth and clean.

EquipmentFirst vortex washing machine with vibratory dewatering
Cleaning360° tumbling removes soil, dust and small stones without mechanical force

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Second vortex washing machine with high-pressure spray giving salad leaves a final rinse

Final Wash — Second Vortex

Final Rinse, Zero Residue

A second vortex washer applies the same water-flow principle with high-pressure spray rinsing and high-pressure vibratory dewatering to strip any treatment-agent residue. Rotary and drum circulation debris removal wash the leaves more thoroughly.

EquipmentSecond vortex washing machine with high-pressure spray
CleaningRemoves treatment-agent residue; rotary and drum debris removal

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Continuous centrifugal dewatering machine with dual conveyor discharge

Surface Water Removal

Continuous Centrifugal Dry

High centrifugal force spins off most surface water while dual conveyor belts keep discharge continuous. The balanced centrifugal design is tuned so leaves are never crushed.

EquipmentContinuous centrifugal dewatering machine with dual belts
ResultBalanced spinning removes surface water without pressing the leaves

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Final Drying

Cold Air Drying

Multiple fan groups blow ambient-temperature air over the leaves to remove remaining surface moisture — crisp leaves, no heat, ready straight into packing.

EquipmentCold-air drying machine with multiple adjustable fans
ResultAmbient-air drying leaves the surface fully dry without heat

Equipment modules

Matched modules instead of a generic machine list.

Module	Role in the workflow	Related detail page
Vegetable cutting machine	Cuts whole leafy heads to salad fragment size (optional, for whole-leaf infeed)	Product page
Elevator / infeed	Feeds cut leaves to washing at adjustable speed	Core module
First Vortex Washing Machine	Primary gentle wash	Product page
Second Vortex Washing Machine	Final rinse in clean water	Product page
Centrifugal dewatering machine	Removes surface water	Product page
Cold-air drying machine	Finishes leaf surface for packing	Core module

Working video

See Complete Salad Processing Line — Double Vortex Washing System in operation.

Related equipment

Machines used in this line.

Vortex Washing Machine

An integrated vortex washing, spray-rinsing and vibratory-dewatering machine for salad greens, lettuce, spinach and other delicate leafy vegetables.

Centrifugal Dewatering Machine

A continuous centrifugal dewatering machine that removes surface moisture from washed produce in seconds, with variable speed control and automatic feed/discharge conveyors.

FAQ

Key questions before line planning

Why two vortex washers?

The first stage does the primary cleaning work; the second provides a final rinse in clean water. For delicate leaves this two-stage approach cleans thoroughly with minimal handling.

Which leaves is the line suitable for?

The line is configured for lettuce, spinach and mixed salad leaves. Share your leaf types and mix recipe during planning.

Is the cutting machine included?

The vegetable cutting machine is added when the raw material arrives as whole heads. If leaves are already cut or shredded at the farm, the line starts directly from the elevator.

Does it include packing?

Packing is a configurable final stage. The line can discharge to your existing packer or include weighing, wrapping and labeling modules.

Tell us your leaf types, capacity and target pack.

Get a Line Proposal