Fstsort tomato drum grader: 5-10 t/h, 3-6 grades, 15-120mm sorting range. The most affordable tomato sorter – durable, efficient, almost zero maintenance. Fixed sizing. For flexible grading, see our electronic weight sorter. Get quote.
What Is a Tomato Drum Grader？
A tomato drum grader（also called a tomato sorting machine）is the most basic and affordable type of size sorter. It uses rotating drums with progressively larger holes to separate round fruits like tomatoes, apples, pears, onions, peaches, and kiwis by diameter. This is the first design of fruit and vegetable grading machines in China, and it remains the go-to solution for packers who need simple, reliable, high-volume size sorting without complex automation
How It Works
The machine includes an automatic feeding hopper, a roller elevator, an inspection table, and a drum size sorting machine. Here‘s the process:
Step | Process |
|---|---|
1 | Tomatoes are dumped into the hopper – feeding is automatic, saving labor and time |
2 | The roller elevator gently lifts fruit to the inspection table for manual quality checks |
3 | Tomatoes enter the rotating drum section – drums with different hole sizes sort by diameter |
4 | Each size exits at a different point, ready for packing |
✅ The working speed is adjustable via frequency converter, and we can add a water tank for washing if needed.
Key Advantages – Why Choose a Drum Grader？
Advantage | Benefit |
|---|---|
Most affordable | The lowest-cost tomato sorter on the market |
Almost no installation | Simple setup – almost plug-and-play |
Virtually zero maintenance | Robust design, few moving parts, long service life |
High efficiency | Processes 5–10 tons per hour |
Durable and reliable | Built to run continuously in demanding packing environments |
Adjustable speed | Match the pace to your labor and downstream equipment |
✅ For packers who only need basic diameter sorting and want to minimize upfront investment, the drum grader is the ideal choice.
Technical Specifications
Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
Capacity | 5 – 10 t/h（customizable） |
Number of grades | 3 – 6（customizable） |
Sorting range（diameter） | 15mm – 120mm |
Power | 1.1kW |
Voltage | 220V / 380V |
Dimension（mm） | 3950*1150*950 |
Material（fruit contact） | Stainless steel |
Frame material | Carbon steel / stainless steel（optional） |
✅ Grade sizes can be customized according to customer requirements at the time of ordering.
Important Limitation – Fixed Sizing
One key thing to understand about drum graders: the sizing is fixed. Once the machine is manufactured with specific drum hole sizes, those sizes cannot be changed after production.
What This Means | Impact |
|---|---|
You must decide all size ranges upfront | Provide your required grades before we build the machine |
No on-site adjustment | You cannot change grade sizes later to adapt to new market demands |
Best for stable specifications | Ideal when your size requirements don‘t change season to season |
⚠️ If you need flexibility to change grade sizes, or require more than 6 grades, the drum grader is not the right solution – consider our electronic weight sorter instead.
When to Upgrade to Electronic Weight Sorting
If your operation requires any of the following, it‘s time to look beyond the drum grader:
Requirement | Drum Grader | Electronic Weight Sorter |
|---|---|---|
Number of grades | 3 – 6 max | 6 – 12+ exits |
Flexibility | Fixed sizes – cannot change | Adjustable via touch screen |
Accuracy | Diameter only | ±2g weight accuracy |
Packing integration | Simple table only | Automatic box filling possible |
Multi-lane capacity | Single lane | 1, 2, 4, or 6 lanes |
Best for | Basic size sorting, budget | Export orders, uniform weight packing |
💡 The electronic weight sorter costs more upfront but pays for itself through reduced giveaway, labor savings, and access to premium export markets.
👉 For more details, see our Tomato Processing Machines
Not sure how to choose a tomato sorter? check the Tomato Sorter Buying Guide →