Why should product-layer thickness be included in the specification for a commercial food dehydrator?

Product-layer thickness matters because an overly deep bed creates drying dead zones: air cannot reach the centre evenly, so moisture lingers and spoilage risk rises. Specify loading method and tolerance alongside it, then have the supplier run your representative material and log the process data. Capture average performance plus abnormal samples, since a good average can conceal unstable operation. When models look similar, compare measured application data rather than motor power or nominal speed, and verify each requirement against a measured result instead of a simple pass mark.