1. Assess Volume & Operational Needs:

   • Peak Capacity: Calculate your maximum plates/hour during rush periods. Undersized machines cause bottlenecks; oversized ones waste resources.

   • Plate Type & Size: Specify materials (ceramic, plastic, metal), shapes (platters, bowls, saucers), and dimensions. Ensure racks or belts fit your wares.

   • Workflow: Batch processing suits rack conveyors; continuous flow demands flight-type machines. Consider space constraints and integration points.

2. Prioritize Cleaning Performance & Hygiene:

   • Soil Removal: Evaluate typical residue (grease, starch, ink, chemicals). Heavy soil requires higher temperatures, stronger detergents, and powerful spray systems.

   • Sanitization: Ensure compliance (e.g., NSF, CE). High-temperature machines (>82°C/180°F final rinse) sanitize thermally; low-temp machines rely on chemical sanitizers – verify effectiveness.

   • Technology Choice:Rack Conveyor (Door Type): Ideal for varied sizes, delicate items, moderate-high volume. Load racks, machine processes per cycle.

   • Flight-Type Conveyor: Best for high-volume, standardized plates. Plates move continuously through wash zones. Requires consistent sizing.

3. Evaluate Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) & Efficiency:

   • Resource Consumption: Analyze water, energy (gas/electric), and detergent usage – major ongoing costs. High-efficiency models offer significant savings.

   • Durability & Maintenance: Choose robust construction (stainless steel). Assess ease of cleaning the machine itself, filter access, and expected service intervals/parts costs.

   • Labor & Automation: Factor in staffing needs. Semi/full-auto features (chemical dosing, unloading) reduce labor but increase upfront cost. Reliability minimizes downtime costs.

In short: Match the machine's capacity and type to your plate volume and workflow, ensure it delivers the required cleaning power and hygiene compliance, and prioritize long-term efficiency and operational costs (TCO) over the initial price tag. Always request demos using your actual plates and typical soil.