--- title: Hot Box 250 | Compost Aeration and Heat Recovery System | Agrilab description: The Hot Skid 250 is built for farms and medium-sized operations that want a modular self-contained CHAR composting system. --- [Skip to main content](https://agrilabtech.com/hot-box-250#main-content) [![AGT Logo](https://agrilabtech.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AGT%20Logo.jpg?width=200&height=100&name=AGT%20Logo.jpg) ![AGT Logo](https://agrilabtech.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AGT%20Logo.jpg?width=200&height=100&name=AGT%20Logo.jpg) ![AGT Logo](https://agrilabtech.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AGT%20Logo.jpg?width=791&height=396&name=AGT%20Logo.jpg) ![AGT Logo](https://agrilabtech.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AGT%20Logo.jpg?width=791&height=396&name=AGT%20Logo.jpg)](https://agrilabtech.com?hsLang=en) - [Show submenu for Products Products](https://agrilabtech.com/cahr_composting_products) - [AGT Mini System](https://agrilabtech.com/mini_system) - [Hot Skid 250](https://agrilabtech.com/hot-skid-250) - [Hot Box 250](https://agrilabtech.com/hot-box-250) - [Hot Box 1000](https://agrilabtech.com/hot-box-1000) - [Show submenu for Services Services](https://agrilabtech.com/compost-systems-consulting) - [Technical Services](https://agrilabtech.com/compost-systems-consulting) - [Show submenu for About Us About Us](https://agrilabtech.com/company_information) - [How it Works](https://agrilabtech.com/technology-0) - [About the Company](https://agrilabtech.com/company_information) - [Company Updates](https://agrilabtech.com/company_updates) - [Contact](https://agrilabtech.com/agrilab-technologies-contact-us) Open main navigation Close main navigation - Show submenu for Products Products - Products - [Products](https://agrilabtech.com/cahr_composting_products) - [AGT Mini System](https://agrilabtech.com/mini_system) - [Hot Skid 250](https://agrilabtech.com/hot-skid-250) - [Hot Box 250](https://agrilabtech.com/hot-box-250) - [Hot Box 1000](https://agrilabtech.com/hot-box-1000) - Show submenu for Services Services - Services - [Services](https://agrilabtech.com/compost-systems-consulting) - [Technical Services](https://agrilabtech.com/compost-systems-consulting) - Show submenu for About Us About Us - About Us - [About Us](https://agrilabtech.com/company_information) - [How it Works](https://agrilabtech.com/technology-0) - [About the Company](https://agrilabtech.com/company_information) - [Company Updates](https://agrilabtech.com/company_updates) - [Contact](https://agrilabtech.com/agrilab-technologies-contact-us) - [Contact Us](https://agrilabtech.com/agrilab-technologies-contact-us) [Contact Us](https://agrilabtech.com/agrilab-technologies-contact-us?hsLang=en) # AGT Hot Box 250 The AGT Compost Hot Box 250 is a value-packed compost aeration system with heat recovery and material drying capabilities,  providing capabilities to manage four or eight compost windrows via negative and positive aeration, vapor recirculation and drying modes all in a 20' insulated shipping container. ![content for AGT Compost Hot Box 250-8RD-1](https://41599676.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/41599676/hubfs/content%20for%20AGT%20Compost%20Hot%20Box%20250-8RD-1.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=content%20for%20AGT%20Compost%20Hot%20Box%20250-8RD-1.jpg) # About the Hot Box 250 Series The Hot Box 250 series is available in 4 and 8 zone configurations.  The 8 zone *AGT Compost Hot Box 250-8RD* was designed to maximize operator control options with this compost aeration and heat recovery (CAHR) package.  Two blowers and corresponding sets of heat exchangers, valve, sealed ductwork, sensors and controls are oriented side-by-side in an insulated 20' shipping container.  With a fresh air intake and the two heat exchangers, the drying feature is standard.  This gives operators the flexibility to manage eight windrows with negative and positive aeration, vapor recirculation and/or forced heated air drying.     Typical compost batch sizes are 100 to 200 cubic yards (CY), up to 250 CY is possible with fluffy material.  With eight zones this means 2000 CY of material under aerated management at a time, and with a typical 4 week aeration cycle, sites can process 26,000 CY per year with this single modular CAHR unit. Space and process efficient, the Hot Box 250-8R accelerates the time to achieving targeted temperatures of 131 F or greater.  Vapor recirculation or forced heated aeration of newly loaded batches promotes aerobic thermophilic conditions in the core of fresh compost mixes.  Beneficial for odor control and speed to achieving PFRP required temperatures for pathogen and weed seed destruction, recirculation has a major impact for improved wintertime composting conditions.  [![Learn More About our Technology](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/41599676/interactive-181456963151.png)](https://agrilabtech.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLIXlYLaJjWNrmoutMEHWnIBgSUYVL6E1HAJc80EhSyxzICcp0p6aMPB4QE9IGeu8v6LggER1jPZ2xU837VFouNHO4JlvAnjY9Cx2xzgkUbXk%2BUaI3SRoJpne04y%2F9DZA5MaOjZWutlcCWG3GoUKxitUFZ5Z3EZq7fbNbU3eIXOOYdxyhxv4iw%3D%3D&webInteractiveContentId=181456963151&portalId=41599676&hsLang=en) # Specifications for AGT Compost Hot Box 250-8RD - **Housing:**  20’ long shipping container with spray-foam insulation, interior lighting and outlets. - **Aeration:**  Two 3 horsepower blowers with speed control, 100 to 500 CFM operating ranges, 6" to 8” pipe connections - **Compost Batches:**  Operates eight compost batches of 150 to 300 CY each. Negative or recirculating aeration, fresh and heated air batch drying is standard. - **Controls:** Timer-controlled cycling of automated batch aeration. Expandable PLC system and touch-screen HMI interface, remotely accessible.  Two sets of digital batch tracking of vapor temperature, oxygen, air flow, and water flows and temperatures. ### Installing the Hot Box 250     The Implementation Process - Hot Box(es) built to order - The site is graded, utilities (electric, hot water, data) and drainage pipes installed - Sump tank is placed, HDPE pipes and aeration channels installed - Push walls are built and concrete working pad(s) cast in place - Hot Box is set in place and connected to aeration pipes, biofilter and utilities - Electrical and data are connected, system is tested in place with empty pad - Hot water system is connected ![hot box 8 turned ASP](https://agrilabtech.com/hubfs/hot%20box%208%20turned%20ASP.jpg) ## Case Study - Commercial Business Processing Agricultural and Forestry Biomass, Digestate, Landscape Debris and Food Scraps Vermont Natural Ag Products in Middlebury, VT sells bulk and bagged compost under the MooDoo and Foster Brothers Farms product lines.  Their commercial facility added AGT Compost Hot Box 250-4R systems in 2016 and 2017.  This installation cut their active composting phase from a typical 4 month cycle to 2 months, while reducing the number of turns with a Komptec straddle turner from 12 to 4.  This continues to save the business labor, space and diesel fuel.  The heat recovery enabled the business to replace 90% of the heating oil consumed by their 10,000 ft2 bagging building, and reduced propane consumption for drying some batches of compost prior to screening and bagging. **Interested in learning more about the AGT Compost Hot Box 250 Series?** [Contact us](https://agrilabtech.com/inquiry-form?hsLang=en) **If you need more power than the Hotbox 250 can offer, The Hot Box 1000 is our larger more powerful system.** [View the Hot Box 1000](https://agrilabtech.com/hot-box-1000?hsLang=en) ![AGT Logo](https://agrilabtech.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AGT%20Logo.jpg?width=150&height=75&name=AGT%20Logo.jpg) - [Products](https://agrilabtech.com/cahr_composting_products) - [Services](https://agrilabtech.com/compost-systems-consulting) - [About Us](https://agrilabtech.com/company_information) - [Contact us](https://agrilabtech.com/agrilab-technologies-contact-us) - [Subscribe to our Newsletter!](https://agrilabtech.com/agrilab-technologies-contact-us-0) ©2026 Agrilab, Inc. All rights reserved. [Privacy Policy](https://agrilabtech.com/privacy-policy?hsLang=en) - - -