---
title: "Sludge Dewatering Equipment: Presses & Centrifuges"
description: "Screw presses, belt filter presses, filter presses, decanter centrifuges and vacuum filters that reduce sludge volume and disposal cost. Request a quote."
url: https://www.waste-water-equipment-factory.com/products/sludge-dewatering/
updated: 2026-11-10
---

# Sludge Dewatering

Reduce sludge volume and disposal costs with the right dewatering technology.

Sludge dewatering equipment removes water from thickened sludge to produce a solid cake that is cheaper to transport, store and dispose of. It is used by municipal wastewater plants, industrial effluent plants, mining and mineral processing operations, and water treatment works.

## How it works

Sludge is first conditioned, usually with a polymer flocculant, so fine particles bind into larger flocs that release water more easily. The conditioned sludge is then separated mechanically. A screw press squeezes sludge along a tapered screw inside a screen. A belt filter press drains sludge by gravity and then presses it between two belts around rollers. A plate and frame filter press pumps sludge into chambers lined with filter cloth under high pressure. A decanter centrifuge separates solids by centrifugal force in a rotating bowl. Vacuum belt and ceramic disc filters draw water through a filter medium under vacuum, mainly for mineral slurries.

## Models

- [Multi-Disc (Volute) Screw Press Dewatering Machine](https://www.waste-water-equipment-factory.com/products/sludge-dewatering/multi-disc-screw-press-dewatering-machine/): This stainless steel volute screw press dewaters municipal slurry and sludge using moving and fixed plates around a screw. It draws only 0.65 kW, weighs about 250 kg and measures 1756 x 700 x 1540 mm. It suits municipal engineering projects and small plants that need low-energy, quiet dewatering.
- [Screw Press Manure Separator](https://www.waste-water-equipment-factory.com/products/sludge-dewatering/screw-press-manure-separator/): This fully automatic screw manure dewatering machine separates solids from liquid in livestock manure using a screw and stainless steel screen. It reduces manure moisture content for easier handling and runs on 220 V in a 280 kg carbon steel body. It suits cow, pig, chicken and duck farms that need on-site farm waste treatment.
- [Belt Filter Press, 3–25 m³/h](https://www.waste-water-equipment-factory.com/products/sludge-dewatering/belt-filter-press/): This carbon steel belt filter press dewaters sludge by squeezing it between filter belts over a series of rollers, giving efficient solid-liquid separation. Capacity ranges from 3 to 25 m³/hour, with PLC control and a 1 kW drive on 220V or 380V. It is designed for municipal and industrial treatment plants that need continuous, low-energy sludge dewatering.
- [Integrated Belt Thickener & Dewatering Machine](https://www.waste-water-equipment-factory.com/products/sludge-dewatering/belt-thickener-dewatering-machine/): This integrated machine thickens and dewaters sludge in one compact unit, saving floor space in chemical, food and municipal plants. It is built from carbon steel, weighs about 800 kg and offers 5, 10 or 15 kW options. It is designed for plant managers and contractors handling municipal, tailings or paper mill sludge.
- [LW Decanter Centrifuge, LW250–LW720](https://www.waste-water-equipment-factory.com/products/sludge-dewatering/lw-decanter-centrifuge/): This LW250-720A centrifugal dewatering machine separates solids from sludge continuously, running 24 hours automatically. It is built in carbon steel, handles 3000 L/h and measures 3160 x 1380 x 865 mm. It suits wastewater plant operators and contractors who want a CE and ISO certified centrifuge with customized treatment solutions.
- [Stainless Steel Decanter Centrifuge for Chemical Slurry](https://www.waste-water-equipment-factory.com/products/sludge-dewatering/stainless-steel-decanter-centrifuge/): This 304L stainless steel decanter centrifuge separates suspended solids from liquids in corrosive chemical service. It is a horizontal spiral design with continuous solid-phase discharge and a coherent slag outlet. It suits chemical, light industry and food industry plants that need corrosion resistance and a high degree of automation.
- [Automatic Plate & Frame Filter Press](https://www.waste-water-equipment-factory.com/products/sludge-dewatering/plate-and-frame-filter-press/): This automatic plate and frame filter press dewaters municipal sewage sludge with PLC control and automatic plate shifting. It is listed at 1000 L/h with motor and pump core components and resists acid corrosion. It suits municipal plants and chemical, fuel, oil, ceramics and paint industries needing eco-friendly, easy operation.
- [DU Rubber Belt Vacuum Filter, DU400–DU3150](https://www.waste-water-equipment-factory.com/products/sludge-dewatering/du-rubber-belt-vacuum-filter/): This DU series belt vacuum filter dewaters gypsum and mineral slurries using a rubber belt under vacuum. Models DU400 to DU3150 cover belt widths of 400–3150 mm and filter areas of 1.0–80 m², built from rubber with Q235 or 304 stainless steel. It suits FGD gypsum dewatering and mining operations, with field installation, commissioning and training.
- [Continuous Vacuum Belt Filter for Tailings](https://www.waste-water-equipment-factory.com/products/sludge-dewatering/vacuum-belt-filter-tailings/): This automatic continuous vacuum belt filter dewaters mining tailings and process slurries on a moving belt. It filters, washes, dries and discharges the cake in one pass and regenerates the filter cloth, giving good washing and low cake moisture at 3,000 L/h. It suits mining, chemical, food processing and environmental engineering projects.
- [Ceramic Disc Vacuum Filter for Ore & Slag](https://www.waste-water-equipment-factory.com/products/sludge-dewatering/ceramic-disc-vacuum-filter/): This automatic ceramic vacuum filter dewaters slag, ore concentrates and tailings using silicon carbide or alumina ceramic plates. It is available in disc or drum type with stainless steel 304/316L components. It suits mineral processing plants handling iron ore, copper ore, gold, coal slurry and tailings that want low energy use and low cake moisture.
- [PLC Ceramic Disc Vacuum Filter for Chemical Plants](https://www.waste-water-equipment-factory.com/products/sludge-dewatering/plc-ceramic-vacuum-filter-chemical/): This fully automatic ceramic vacuum filter separates solids from chemical industry slurries under PLC control. The listed model handles 3000 L/h with 5 or 15 kW power and measures 3600 x 2250 x 1830 mm. It suits chemical plants as well as mining, metallurgy and public sector projects needing eco-friendly, easy operation.

## How to choose

- **Sludge type and characteristics:** Biological, chemical, oily and mineral sludges dewater very differently. Feed solids content, particle size and organic fraction strongly influence the right technology.
- **Target cake dryness:** Filter presses typically produce the driest cake, while screw presses and belt presses offer lower energy use and continuous operation. Match dryness to disposal route and cost.
- **Throughput and operating hours:** Size equipment on dry solids load and the hours per day it will run. Batch machines such as filter presses need different sizing than continuous machines.
- **Energy, noise and footprint:** Centrifuges are compact but use more energy and generate more noise. Screw presses run slowly with low energy and wash water demand.
- **Operator attention:** Consider how much automation and supervision each machine requires, including cloth washing, cake discharge and polymer preparation.

## Applications

- Municipal wastewater treatment plants
- Food, beverage and dairy effluent sludge
- Pulp and paper mill sludge
- Oily and petrochemical sludge
- Mining tailings and mineral concentrates
- Drinking water treatment residuals
- Electroplating and chemical sludge

## FAQ

### Which sludge dewatering machine produces the driest cake?

Plate and frame filter presses generally produce the highest cake dryness because they apply high pressure in sealed chambers. The actual result depends heavily on the sludge type and conditioning.

### What is the difference between a screw press and a belt filter press?

A screw press dewaters sludge inside an enclosed screen with a slow-turning screw, using little wash water and energy. A belt filter press handles larger flows on open belts but needs more wash water and operator attention.

### Is polymer always required for dewatering?

Most biological and fine sludges need polymer conditioning to dewater effectively. Some coarse mineral slurries can be dewatered with little or no polymer.

### How do I choose between a centrifuge and a filter press?

A decanter centrifuge runs continuously in a compact, enclosed footprint, while a filter press is a batch machine that typically achieves drier cake. Throughput, cake dryness target and energy cost usually decide the choice.

## Contact

- Email: inquiry@waste-water-equipment-factory.com
- WhatsApp / Tel: +86 176 2154 1688
- Quotation form: https://www.waste-water-equipment-factory.com/contact/
- Company: Shanghai Mars Industrial Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China