RICHI Supports Remote Startup of 200-300 kg/H Floating Fish Feed Line in Botswana

RICHI Machinery supplied a 200-300 kg/H floating fish feed production line to a customer in Botswana, with installation guidance, operator training and startup support completed remotely. Rather than sending an installation engineer to the project site, the customer chose to organize the installation locally while RICHI's technical team provided online assistance through the key stages of equipment setup and operation.

The project also presented a practical challenge during initial production. Although the equipment had been installed and could produce feed, the first finished pellets did not achieve the required floating performance. RICHI engineers worked with the customer to review the production conditions and feed formulation, and recommended an adjustment to improve the extrusion result. After the formula was modified, the customer successfully produced floating fish feed.

A Compact Extrusion Line for Small-Scale Fish Feed Production

The 200-300 kg/H capacity places this project in the small-scale range, suitable for customers whose production requirements do not justify a larger industrial aquafeed plant. The line combines the main operations required to turn prepared ingredients into extruded floating feed while keeping the equipment configuration manageable for a smaller production site.

The supplied system includes an 11 kW feed hammer mill, a 250 kg/batch mixer, a 22 kW dry type fish feed extruder, a belt dryer and a coating machine together with supporting equipment. A packing machine was not included, and the line was configured without a fully automatic control system. This reflects an important principle in small feed projects: equipment should be selected around actual production and operating requirements rather than adding automation or downstream machinery that the customer does not need.

Why Extrusion Is Critical for Floating Fish Feed

Floating fish feed requires a different processing route from conventional livestock or poultry pellets. In this floating fish feed production line, the extruder is responsible for developing the physical structure needed for the finished feed. Under suitable formulation and processing conditions, expansion during extrusion creates a pellet structure with sufficient buoyancy to remain on the water surface.

Extrusion performance, however, is not determined by the machine alone. Raw material particle size, formulation, starch content, moisture and operating conditions interact during processing. This became particularly important during startup of the Botswana line.

The First Pellets Did Not Float as Required

During initial production, the customer found that the finished fish feed did not achieve the expected floating performance. Instead of treating this simply as an equipment problem, RICHI's technical team reviewed the formulation with the customer.

Starch contributes to expansion and structural development during extrusion. Based on the conditions encountered in this project, RICHI engineers recommended adding corn starch to adjust the formula. Following the change and further production adjustment, the finished pellets achieved the required floating behavior.

The experience demonstrates an important point for aquafeed producers: purchasing a fish feed extruder does not by itself guarantee that every formulation will produce the same floating result. Equipment parameters and formulation need to be considered together, particularly during the first production runs or when raw materials change.

Remote Installation Support Continued into Operator Training

The Botswana customer did not require RICHI engineers to travel to the site for installation. The local team handled the physical installation while communicating with RICHI remotely. Technical support continued beyond equipment placement to startup and operator training, helping the customer's personnel understand the basic operation of the production system.

This remote-support model can be practical for compact fish feed projects when the customer has suitable local personnel and site conditions. It can reduce the need for overseas service travel while retaining access to manufacturer guidance during installation and startup. Whether remote guidance or on-site engineering support is more appropriate should still be evaluated project by project according to line complexity, customer experience and local technical resources.

From Equipment Installation to a Feed That Actually Floats

The Botswana project shows why commissioning a fish feed line is ultimately about the finished product rather than simply proving that every motor can run. Grinding needs to prepare ingredients for extrusion, mixing needs to create a consistent formulation, the extruder needs suitable material and operating conditions, and drying and coating need to support the required final feed characteristics.

For customers planning a 200-300 kg/H or other small floating fish feed plant, RICHI Machinery recommends defining the available raw materials, intended fish species, feed size range, formula, required floating characteristics, production hours and desired automation level before finalizing the equipment configuration. This allows the production line and technical support plan to be developed around the feed the customer actually needs to manufacture.