Capacity rating is more than vessel volume
The rated daily load is connected to vessel size, drive, mixing, heating and the programmed operating cycle. A physically empty-looking space inside the vessel does not prove that additional kilograms are within the machine’s design duty.
Overload can show up as process instability
Possible symptoms may include poorer mixing, longer or less consistent processing, higher mechanical load, more frequent intervention or more difficult discharge. The exact behaviour depends on machine design and feedstock, so avoid making universal percentage claims.
Measure peaks before purchase
If a site regularly reaches 110–120 kg on event days, do not hide those days inside a 90 kg average. Record frequency and decide whether the 100 kg class has enough margin under the manufacturer’s guidance or whether the next capacity is more appropriate.
A peak-management plan can be legitimate
Some sites can separate or schedule a rare abnormal load using an approved temporary route. That is different from choosing an undersized machine that is overloaded every week.
Use alarms as information, not obstacles
Overload protection, trips and alarms are safety/process signals. Do not increase settings or bypass protection merely to keep a machine running; diagnose the load and the fault with the supplier or competent technician.
Plan the recurring peak instead of arguing with the rating
Occasional abnormal days and routine overload are different problems. If a peak happens predictably every week or every event season, it belongs in the design discussion. Record how high the load goes, how often it occurs and whether the site has an approved temporary route or operating schedule. Then compare the next machine size with the cost and site impact of managing that peak operationally.
- Record frequency as well as peak kilograms.
- Do not use vessel free-space as proof of spare capacity.
- Treat trips and alarms as protection signals.
- Compare the next rating before making overload routine.
A repeatable peak is part of the design load.
When the question becomes model-specific
This guide stays general. For exact figures on a particular machine, these published pages from the COMPOSTO range are the reference.
Want a second opinion on your site?
Send your site type, city and measured daily wet waste. The COMPOSTO technical team replies with the capacity and checks worth doing next.