Mesh Belt Dryer in Australia

The Real Background: From Homegrown to Wholesale

The business started out small: drying organic apple slices and sweet potato crisps in a converted farm shed. Over time, farmers' markets turned into bulk orders for boutique grocers and health food stores in Sydney and Melbourne. Demand grew, but so did complaints about inconsistent texture and occasional mold spots — a clear sign that the old manual cabinet dryers were no longer good enough.

They needed a more professional solution — something to handle 1-2 tonnes of mixed fruit and veg slices per shift, with better control over moisture and temperature. However, a full-scale processing line was too big an investment at this stage. So, they focused on a single, powerful upgrade: one mesh belt dryer to integrate with their existing washing, slicing, and packaging gear.

Picking the Right Mesh Belt Dryer for Australia's Dried Food Scene

This producer mainly processes seasonal organic apples, mangoes, pineapples, and a mix of sweet potatoes and beetroot for healthy chips. The moisture in fresh fruit slices can be as high as 80%. To deliver shelf-stable snacks, they need to reduce that to around 10–12% with minimal nutrient loss.

RICHI's team proposed the DHG-1000 model mesh belt dryer for this application:

• Model: DHG-1000
• Heating Type: Electric heating (a popular choice in Australia for clean energy integration, especially with many producers installing solar panels)
• Power: 70 kW + 2.2 kW × 3 + 1.5 kW
• Mesh Layers: 5
• Mesh Belt Width: 1.2 meters
• Drying Area: 43 m²

This capacity of mesh belt dryer in Australia allows the operator to run up to 1.5 tonnes of fresh slices per shift, with adjustable airflow zones to handle delicate mango and pineapple pieces alongside denser vegetable chips.

Australian Raw Materials: Local, Seasonal, and Organic

This customer sources directly from nearby organic orchards and vegetable growers. Typical raw materials processed in their new mesh belt drying machine include:

• Royal Gala and Pink Lady apples
• Kensington Pride mangoes
• Queensland pineapples
• Sweet potatoes and beetroot from organic veggie farms

The variety of produce means moisture content and thickness vary a lot. The RICHI mesh belt dryer gives them the flexibility to set different drying speeds and temperatures for each product type.

Why Switch? The Old Way vs. the Mesh Belt Dryer

In the past, drying 200 kg of apple slices took nearly 16 hours using multiple tray dryers — with constant supervision to rotate trays and check moisture levels. Some slices overdried and cracked, others stayed too wet, increasing spoilage risks.

Now, with the mesh belt dryer in Australia, the team loads washed, sliced fruit onto the moving belt. The slices pass through five carefully controlled drying layers, each with adjustable temperature and airflow. The process is continuous, meaning less handling, less contamination risk, and better energy use.

What's So Special About a mesh belt dryer in Australia?

One big advantage of a mesh belt dryer is its versatility. Whether it's thin mango slices that need gentle drying to keep their bright color and nutrients, or thicker sweet potato rounds for crunchy chips, operators can adjust belt speed and drying zone temperature to get it right every time.

This flexibility is a game changer for Australian processors who work with seasonal, local produce. When apple season ends, they can switch to mango or even test new items like zucchini chips or dried pears, all using the same mesh belt drying machine.

The Numbers Don't Lie

Here's how production changed with the new mesh belt dryer in Australia:

• Output: Boosted from about 250 kg/day to 1,500 kg/day.
• Energy Savings: More efficient than multiple small ovens; the electric heating works well with the company’s rooftop solar panels.
• Labor: Freed up two full-time workers from rotating trays — they now focus on slicing, packaging, and new product development.
• Waste: Reduced by over 25% because drying is uniform and spoilage dropped significantly.

Clean Energy and Food Safety: Why a Mesh Belt Dryer Makes Sense in Australia

Energy cost is a big factor in Australia's food industry. Many small processors are investing in renewables. Electric heating in the RICHI mesh belt dryer lets them run partly on solar during daylight shifts. There's no need for fossil fuel burners or costly gas hook-ups.

Food safety rules here are strict. The mesh belt dryer's enclosed chambers and stainless-steel food-contact parts make regular cleaning and inspections easy — a must for passing audits from retail chains and export buyers.

The Customer's Next Steps: One Dryer, Many Ideas

With the new mesh belt dryer in place, this Australian company is already testing new dried snacks: pineapple-peach mixes, coconut chips, and even organic dried zucchini for local restaurants.

Because the mesh belt dryer in Australia is so adjustable, they don't need another dryer for every new product idea. This keeps costs down and gives them freedom to innovate. And because they kept the investment focused on one powerful machine, they have funds left to expand packaging and branding.

Why RICHI? Reliability and Real Help

RICHI didn't just sell them a belt dryer machine. From the first email, the engineers asked detailed questions about moisture content, product thickness, batch sizes, and even local climate. They sent videos of similar drying lines, shared sample test data, and worked with the customer’s electrician to match local power supply standards.

Installation was fast, and remote training made it easy for the team to switch from old ovens to the new continuous mesh belt dryer. When the team had questions about adjusting airflow for new fruits, RICHI’s technical staff responded within hours, not days.

Mesh Belt Dryer in Australia: Ready to Go Green and Grow

This story shows why more Australian processors — from family snack makers to medium-sized food brands — are looking for modern, efficient mesh belt dryers. One machine can handle dozens of products. It uses clean electric power. It saves time, cuts labor, and meets strict food safety rules.

The result? Small businesses stay competitive and have room to grow. New dried products hit the market faster. Local fruit and veggie growers find new buyers. And consumers get healthier, more sustainable snack options.

Ready to Upgrade? Let's Talk Drying

If you're an Australian processor looking at a mesh belt dryer in Australia, RICHI Machinery is ready to help. Whether you make organic dried fruits, veggie chips, pet treats, or even niche products like yeast or protein powders — the right mesh belt drying machine can transform how you work.

RICHI offers more than just a standard dryer. We tailor every belt drying project to your raw materials, your product, and your growth plans. So when you search for belt dryer for fruit drying, continuous mesh belt dryer, or industrial mesh belt dryer, you'll know you're not just buying equipment — you're investing in your future.

Contact the RICHI team today. Tell us what you want to dry. Let's find the right solution to help your Australian business grow naturally, efficiently, and sustainably.