Compost turner equipment
Overview of the full composting range and how to match a turner to your pile, tonnage and site.
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Composting Equipment
Fermentation is the stage that decides the quality of everything downstream. The right compost turner keeps the pile aerobic, holds 55–65 °C and turns raw manure into mature compost in 7–15 days.
- Windrow, groove, self-propelled, forklift and in-vessel composting options
- Matched to your daily tonnage, site shape and odour requirements
- Turner, tank, aeration and deodorising equipment from one supplier
What composting equipment actually has to do
Composting looks simple — pile the manure and wait — but a commercial composting plant has four jobs to do reliably: keep oxygen moving into the pile so it stays aerobic, hold the core above 55 °C long enough to kill pathogens and weed seeds, keep the moisture at 55–65% so microbes stay active, and turn the material often enough that the outside of the pile spends time in the hot core. Every type of composting equipment is a different mechanical answer to those four jobs.
The choice between windrow turners, groove-type (channel) turners, self-propelled machines, forklift turners and in-vessel fermentation vessels is therefore driven by volume, available space, climate and how strictly odour is regulated. Below, each type is described with the tonnage range it suits best.
Choose your composting equipment
Large scale compost turner
Groove type, wheel type and chain plate turners for municipal and industrial composting at 100–1,000 t/day.
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Windrow turner
Crawler and moving-type windrow turners for open-air piles; the most cost-effective option for farm-scale composting.
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Self-propelled compost turner
A single operator drives, turns and re-piles; ideal where labour is expensive and the windrow layout changes.
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In-vessel composting equipment
Closed fermentation tanks with forced aeration for odour-sensitive sites and wet, high-nitrogen waste.
View details →Manure composting equipment
The complete manure composting set: separator, turner, deodorising and screening, sized to your herd.
View details →Poultry composting machine
Systems designed around wet, ammonia-rich poultry litter and poultry mortality composting.
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Solid liquid separator
Dewater slurry before composting so the pile behaves and the drying cost falls.
View details →Composting equipment selection guide
| Equipment type | Capacity | Footprint | Odour control | Best application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small windrow turner | 50–200 t/day | Open pad, 3 m windrows | Moderate | Farms, cooperatives |
| Crawler / moving windrow turner | 100–500 t/day | 4–6 m windrows, open pad | Moderate | Commercial farms, fertilizer plants |
| Self-propelled compost turner | 200–800 t/day | Wide open pad | Moderate | Large farms, contractor services |
| Groove-type (channel) turner | 100–1,000 t/day | Concrete fermentation channels | Moderate to high | Municipal plants, fixed-layout factories |
| Chain plate turner | 200–1,000 t/day | Deep fermentation bays | High | Industrial composting |
| In-vessel fermentation tank | 5–100 t/day | Compact, indoor possible | Very high | Food waste, urban sites, odour-sensitive areas |
| Forklift compost turner | 50–300 t/day | Open pad | Low to moderate | Existing forklift fleets, low investment |
How to set up a composting operation
Assess the material
Measure moisture, carbon/nitrogen ratio and particle size. Add straw, sawdust or finished compost to bring the ratio to 25–30:1 and moisture to 55–65%.
Design the pad or channel
Allow a concrete or compacted pad with drainage and leachate collection. Windrows of 1.5–2 m height and 3–6 m width are standard; channels are cast to the turner's track width.
Build the first pile
Layer carbon and nitrogen material in a 3:1 ratio and start turning immediately. Add a mature-compost starter to shorten the lag phase.
Turn on schedule
Turn daily for the first week, then every two or three days. Monitor temperature with a probe; turn whenever the core falls below 50 °C or rises above 70 °C.
Finish and screen
After 7–15 days the pile cools and stops reheating. Screen the compost, reuse the oversize as a bulking agent and send the fines to granulation or packing.
Composting equipment FAQ
How often should a compost pile be turned?
Daily for the first 5–7 days while the pile is heating, then every 2–3 days until it cools. The rule is simpler than the schedule: turn when the core temperature drops below 50 °C, because that means oxygen is running out and the pile is going anaerobic.
What is the ideal fermentation temperature?
55–65 °C. Above 55 °C pathogens and weed seeds are destroyed; above 65 °C the thermophilic bacteria that do the work start to die off and the pile is losing nitrogen as ammonia. Below 45 °C the composting process slows markedly.
How long does manure composting take?
7–15 days of active thermophilic fermentation, followed by 10–20 days of maturation before the compost is fully stable. Adding a bacterial starter, keeping the moisture near 60% and turning on schedule compresses this to the lower end of the range.
Do I need a roof over the composting area?
In heavy-rainfall regions yes, or at least a covered drainage system. Excess rain waterlogs the pile, causes leachate and lengthens the cycle. Many customers use a simple steel structure over the windrow area, which also improves odour management.
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Frequently asked questions
Which composting equipment is best for a farm?
For most farms a crawler or moving-type windrow turner is the best value: it is self-contained, does not need a concrete channel, and handles up to about 500 t/day. If labour is scarce or the site is cramped, a self-propelled turner or a small in-vessel tank is worth the extra cost.
How much does composting equipment cost?
A small windrow turner starts at a modest investment and scales with turning width and engine power. Groove-type turners and in-vessel fermentation tanks cost more because they include rails, aeration piping or a concrete structure, but they deliver tighter process control and much better odour containment.
Can I compost in winter?
Yes, but the pile will be slower and the outer layer freezes. Practical measures are to build slightly larger piles, insulate with a layer of finished compost or straw, turn less often but more thoroughly, and use in-vessel fermentation where the vessel itself provides insulation.
What comes after composting equipment in a fertilizer plant?
Crushing, mixing and either packing as powder or granulation. Compost leaving the pile is 55–65% moisture and 0–30 mm in size, so a crusher and screener are always needed; a granulator, dryer, cooler and coater are added if pellets are the target.
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