Separation & Filtration RFQ template & spec checklist

Separation and filtration equipment splits a stream by particle size, density, or molecular weight: disc-stack centrifuges and decanters, membrane systems from microfiltration through reverse osmosis, plate-and-frame and pressure-leaf filters, cross-flow units, and bag and cartridge housings for polishing. Plants shop this category to raise yield, clarify a product, concentrate before drying, recover a valuable fraction, or protect a downstream membrane. The economics hinge on flux decay, cleaning frequency, and how much product is lost to the reject stream, so a low equipment price can hide a high operating cost. Ask each supplier for a mass balance, not just a machine.

What to include in your request

• ▢ Feed stream: flow rate, temperature, solids type and concentration, particle size distribution, and viscosity
• ▢ Separation goal: target clarity or turbidity, concentration factor, or a specific rejection and permeate spec
• ▢ Product value and the acceptable loss to reject, retentate, or filter cake
• ▢ Cleaning regime, chemistries, and temperatures the membranes or contact parts must tolerate
• ▢ 3-A conformance for separators, clarifiers, and product-contact housings in dairy or liquid-food duty
• ▢ Batch or continuous operation, expected run time between cleans, and available floor space
• ▢ Utilities: power, CIP supply, compressed air, and drain for backwash or desludge

What drives the quote

• Technology type and hydraulic capacity
• Membrane area and element chemistry, or bowl size and the desludge mechanism
• Contact-part metallurgy and sanitary certification
• Automation: flux control, automatic desludge, CIP integration, and instrumentation
• Number of stages or skids and the degree of concentration required

Common spec mistakes to avoid

• Sizing on clean-water flux and ignoring the real flux decay the actual feed causes
• Underestimating cleaning frequency, so the line cannot hit daily volume once fouling is real
• Overlooking product loss in the reject stream when comparing a cheap unit to a better-yielding one
• Feeding a membrane without adequate prefiltration, which shortens element life dramatically
• Not stating feed-solids variability, so the machine chokes on the worst incoming batch

Lead time

Lead time depends on the technology and scale: a cartridge housing is quick, while a large disc-stack separator or a multi-skid membrane plant with custom elements runs much longer. Sanitary certification and exotic alloys add time.

How to use this template

Fill in the bracketed parts, delete what doesn't apply, and send the same version to every supplier so the quotes come back on the same terms. Or start a request and our agents send it for you.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get quotes for Separation & Filtration?

Start a request and describe what you need once. Our agents shortlist Separation & Filtration suppliers that list it, email each one your request from a PostRequest address, follow up once, and line up price, minimums, lead time and terms side by side. No account or password needed.

Are the suppliers on this page vetted?

They're directory listings from public sources, not endorsements. Before our agents send your Separation & Filtration request, they check that each supplier actually offers what you need. During early access, a person on our team reviews every comparison before it reaches you.

Can I include suppliers I already use?

Yes. Add them and we'll request quotes from them alongside new options, so you see how they compare.

Do suppliers see who I am?

No. When our agents send your Separation & Filtration request, suppliers see the spec and roughly where it ships. Your name, company and contact details go to a supplier only after you choose to connect.

What does it cost?

Free during early access. No card needed.