Outgrown your 28 kg washer-extractor? Meet the new 32 kg machine FX320!

The need for a bigger washer-extractor usually starts with one extra cycle. A hotel adds rooms, a care home takes in more residents, and the 28 kg washer-extractor that used to finish by early afternoon now runs into the evening. Staff start earlier, finish later, and the laundry room becomes the bottleneck of the day.

A 35 kg machine seems like the natural next step. In many ranges, that is already an industrial machine. It is designed for larger laundries, with more space, a heavier installation and a bigger investment.

For the laundries in between, we developed the new Primus FX320. It is a 32 kg softmount washer-extractor that brings more capacity to the compact, commercial class of our FX line.

This article explains why we developed the FX320, how it differs from the machines next to it in our range, what changes in daily work, and what to check before you decide. It also shows who should look at the larger FX350 instead.

How do you know your 28 kg washer-extractor is too small?

Most laundries do not decide to change machines on one particular day. They notice small signs first. If you recognize several of the points below, it may be time to look at a larger machine.

• The machine runs longer than before. Cycles that ended in the afternoon now continue into the evening.
• Staff start earlier or stay later to finish the same day’s linen.
• Your business has grown. You have more rooms, more residents, more members or more customers than when you bought the machine.

An extra machine is one answer, but it needs more space, more connections and more service points. A larger single machine is another answer. That is the gap the FX320 is designed to address.

Why did we develop a new 32 kg Primus washer-extractor?

Because we kept hearing the same thing. Our customers and distributors told us that the 28 kg FX280 was often too small for them. The 35 kg FX350 offered more capacity, but it also required a larger investment than they needed. For many laundries, the step from 28 kg to 35 kg was simply too big.

So we looked at the seven-kilogram gap between the two machines and designed the FX320 to fill it. It has a 320-liter drum and a capacity of 32 kg at a 1:10 fill factor.

At a 1:9 fill factor, the capacity is 35 kg. For many sites, this gives enough room to absorb growth without rebuilding the laundry.

The fill factor is the ratio between drum volume and linen weight. A 1:10 ratio is the standard way to size a load for a full wash result. Your Primus distributor can help you choose the right load for your linen type and program.

What makes the FX320 different from a 35 kg industrial machine?

We built the FX320 on our commercial platform, not the industrial one. That single design decision shapes how the machine is installed and how it fits into an existing laundry room.

The difference between a commercial and an industrial washer-extractor is not only the number of kilograms. It is the way the machine is built, how heavy it is, how it is installed and what kind of laundry it is designed for. Industrial machines are designed for large, high-volume laundries. Commercial machines are designed for on-premises laundries and for sites where space and installation conditions are more limited.

The FX320 follows the second path. It gives you a capacity that is close to an industrial machine, while keeping the construction and the installation approach of the commercial class.

Lighter construction, high extraction force

On our commercial platform, we join the zinc-plated steel frame by clinching instead of welding. The FX320 weighs 580 kg, which is 430 kg less than our industrial FX350. It still reaches an extraction force of 460 G at 980 rpm. That is more than both its neighbors in our range: the FX280 runs at 400 G and the FX350 at 360 G.

For you, a lighter machine can mean a simpler installation, including in older buildings or on upper floors, subject to floor load capacity and local requirements. Always ask a qualified person to check the floor before you plan the installation.

The FX320 is a softmount washer-extractor. A softmount machine is designed to handle the forces of high-speed extraction in the machine itself. For many sites, this can mean a less demanding foundation than for other mounting types. The requirements still depend on the building, so we recommend that you confirm them for your site before installation.

A footprint close to the FX280

The FX320 needs 1.29 m² of floor area, only slightly more than the 1.15 m² of our FX280. In many laundry rooms, it can take the place of your 28 kg machine without moving walls. Its dimensions are 1525 × 1080 × 1198 mm (H × W × D).

Before you order, check the service access and the delivery route: the packed machine is 1135 mm wide. Also check the height, the water, drain and power connections, and the floor load.

What changes in your day-to-day laundry work?

You notice the difference in three places: in the number of cycles, at the dryer and at the machine itself.

Fewer cycles for the same volume

More kilograms per cycle means fewer cycles per day. If your laundry washes 400 kg of linen a day, you need about 15 loads in a 28 kg machine and about 13 in a 32 kg machine (illustrative figures). That can be the difference between finishing in the afternoon and working into the evening. Your actual number of cycles depends on your linen, your programs and your load size.

Two fewer loads may not sound like much. But every cycle also includes loading, unloading, moving the linen to the dryer and starting the next program. When the number of cycles goes down, the number of times your staff handle the machine goes down too. Over a week, this adds up to time that your team can use for other tasks, such as sorting, folding or finishing.

Less water left for the dryer

We designed the 460 G extraction force to leave less residual moisture in the linen.
This can help you shorten drying time, especially when you pair the FX320 with one of our TX tumble dryers matched to its capacity. Actual drying time depends on the linen type, the program, the dryer and the site conditions.

Easier unloading and simple operation

We designed our patented Cascade™ drum to keep linen from sticking to the drum after high-speed extraction, so your staff can unload more easily. They work with our XControl FLEX+ 7″ touch control. It offers up to 99 programs, 36 languages and Wi-Fi as standard.

The language choice matters in laundries where staff speak different first languages. Operators can select the language they know and follow the same program steps on the same screen.

Matching the dryer

A 32 kg load leaves the washer-extractor in one batch. Your tumble dryer needs to take this batch, either in one load or in a planned split. This is why we suggest you match the dryer capacity to the washer-extractor capacity. If the dryer is too small, it becomes the new bottleneck and you do not use the full benefit of the larger washer-extractor.

If you want to compare different options for your laundry, you can also read our article on whether one large washer-extractor or two smaller ones is the better fit.

What do you need to plan before you install the FX320?

A new washer-extractor is more than a machine. It is also the room around it. Before you order, we suggest you check these points with your Primus distributor:

• Floor load. The FX320 weighs 580 kg. Check the floor capacity.
• Delivery route. The packed machine is 1135 mm wide. Measure doors, corridors and lifts.
• Service access. Leave enough space around the machine for service work.
• The FX320 is available with electric heating (21.9 kW) or steam. Check which supply your site has.
• Check the water, drain and power connections against the machine specification.
• Check that your tumble dryer capacity matches the larger load.

Who is the FX320 for?

We designed the FX320 for on-premises laundries that have outgrown a 28 kg machine but do not need an industrial one. Typical examples are hotels, care homes and sports facilities where space is limited and the laundry room cannot grow.

Our industrial FX350 can still be the better fit for you. We recommend it when your batches regularly exceed 32 kg, when you plan for further growth, or when you need features of our industrial platform such as integrated automatic weighing. Your Primus distributor can help you compare both for your site.

FX280, FX320 or FX350: which one fits your laundry?

The three machines cover three different steps of capacity. The table below compares the points we mention in this article. It does not replace the full specification of each machine.

The right choice depends on your daily volume, the space you have and your plans for the next years. As a general guide: choose the FX280 if 28 kg is still enough for you, the FX320 if you need more capacity in a commercial machine, and the FX350 if your batches regularly exceed 32 kg or you need industrial features.

The FX320 at a glance

Specifications are subject to change; see the FX320 spec sheet for full details.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Primus FX320 available?

The FX320 is the newest addition to our FX softmount line. Contact your Primus distributor for availability in your country.

Can the FX320 replace a 28 kg machine in the same space?

In many cases, yes. It needs 1.29 m² of floor area, compared with 1.15 m² for our FX280. Before you order, check the height, service access, connections and floor load.

Is the FX320 a commercial or an industrial washer-extractor?

We built it on our commercial platform. It is the largest commercial model in our FX line; the 35 kg FX350 is the first industrial one.

How does the FX320 differ from the FX280 and the FX350?

The FX280 has 28 kg capacity and 400 G extraction. The FX350 is an industrial machine with 35 kg capacity and 360 G extraction. The FX320 sits between them with 32 kg capacity, 460 G extraction and a 580 kg weight.

Can I use the FX320 with my existing tumble dryer?

Possibly. A larger load needs a dryer that can take it. We suggest you pair the FX320 with a TX tumble dryer matched to its capacity. Your Primus distributor can check your current setup.

Which heating options are available for the FX320?

The FX320 is available with electric heating (21.9 kW) or with steam. Which option fits you depends on the energy supply at your site. Your Primus distributor can help you check this.

Is the FX320 the right size for your laundry?

See the full specifications on the FX320 product page or in the FX320 spec sheet, or ask your Primus distributor to check your sizing.

Features are available to support different workflow, capacity and site requirements, depending on the model and configuration. Actual results vary by model, settings, load type and operating conditions.