Desanders for tomato and vegetable wash water
Tomatoes arrive from the field with soil. In the unloading and wash channels, that soil becomes sand that wears out pumps and fills channels and tanks. A SAICI desander removes it continuously and returns water you can put back into circulation.
- Dozens of machines already sold in Italy
- 30–500 m³/h of water treated, depending on the model
- 30 µm the finest cut in the range
The machines that have cleaned slurry on foundation sites for more than 40 years now work on tomato wash lines. The principle is the same: screen, pump, hydrocyclones. Only what the water carries is different.
We have already sold dozens of them in Italy for this job, so we know the pace of the season and what a breakdown costs in mid-August.
What happens when the soil stays in the water
Worn pumps
Sand abrades impellers and casings. Failures come at the peak of the season, when stopping costs most.
Channels and tanks to empty
Soil settles and has to be dug out, often with the line stopped.
Wasted water
Water that is too dirty can't be recirculated, so you use more fresh water and discharge more.
More sludge downstream
Soil you don't remove early ends up in the settling tanks and the wastewater plant.
How it works on the wash line
- 01
Roughing screen
The screen holds back leaves, stems, stones and fragments before they reach the hydrocyclones.
- 02
Pumping
A wear-resistant pump feeds the soil-laden water to the hydrocyclones.
- 03
Separation
In the hydrocyclones, centrifugal force drives sand and silt downwards: a 45 µm cut with the SD series, down to 30 µm with the desilters.
- 04
Recirculation
Clean water goes back to the channels or the recirculation tank; the sand comes out concentrated, ready to collect.
What a desander doesn't do
It separates sand and silt. Very fine clay, skins and dissolved organic matter stay in the water: they need settling or the wastewater plant. We tell you this up front, and size the machine accordingly.
Which machine for your line
The choice depends on how much water circulates and on the type of soil. This is where we start:
SD series desanders
For lines with high flows and sandy soil.SD series detailsSDS series desilters
When the soil carries a lot of fine sand and silt.SDS series detailsSCD/SCDV series desilters
For smaller flows, with a built-in vibrating screen.SCD/SCDV series detailsPumps and prescreens
To complete the line: self-priming and slurry pumps, prescreens for coarse material.Full range
The season won't wait
The tomato season lasts a few weeks at the height of summer. To have the machine installed and tested before it starts, choose it a few months ahead.
Purchase incentives
A desander is a capital good: depending on the company and the region, buying one may qualify for these measures.
- Hyper-depreciation 2026–2028 (iperammortamento, 2026 Budget Law): up to 180% extra deductible cost for new capital goods that meet the Industry 4.0 requirements and are delivered by 30 September 2028. It applies if the machine is supplied with the required technical and interconnection features.
- Nuova Sabatini: subsidised loans with an interest contribution for SMEs buying new machinery, refinanced with €650 million for 2026–2027.
- ZES Unica tax credit: for investments of at least €200,000 in machinery and plant in southern Italy and in the eligible areas of Marche and Umbria. Extended to 2028, it is booked every year through a notice to the Italian Revenue Agency.
- Regional rural development calls (CSR 2023–2027, measure SRD13): grants for companies investing in the processing of agricultural products. Timing and rules vary by region.
Why SAICI
- 40+ years and 300+ projects in slurry treatment.
- Wear-resistant parts: every part subject to wear is made from wear-resistant materials, selected and tested for the duty.
- Spare parts shipped within 24 hours of the order, for all our machines: a plant or a site standing idle while it waits for a part is expensive.
- Designed and built in Forlì: you deal directly with the people who know the machine.
- Straight answers: if your water isn't a job for a desander, we'll tell you first.
Frequently asked questions
Does it work for potatoes, carrots and other vegetables?
The principle applies to any vegetable that arrives from the field with soil. Send us the water flow and the soil type and we'll tell you whether a desander makes sense for your line.
How do I choose the flow rate?
What counts most is the water circulating in the unloading and wash channels; if you don't know it, we estimate it together from the tonnes processed per day. Our machines cover 30 to 500 m³/h; with several lines you can have one machine per line or one central machine.
Can it be added to an existing line?
Yes, usually between the collection of the unloading water and the recirculation tank. Send us a photo of the line and the space available and we'll suggest where to place it.
Where does the separated soil go?
It leaves the machine concentrated and separated from the water, and is collected in a skip or on a yard. How it is handled after that depends on your plant's permits and rules.
Let's talk about your line
Send us this information and we'll suggest the right machine, with a quote:
- water flow in the channels (m³/h) or tonnes of tomatoes per day
- soil type: sandy, silty or clayey
- a photo of the unloading line
- when your season starts