RICHI Revolutionizes Russian Aquaculture With New 5T/H Trout Feed Production Facility

In a significant development for Russia's aquaculture sector, leading feed machinery manufacturer RICHI has successfully commissioned a cutting-edge 5-ton-per-hour trout feed production plant in the country's key fish farming region. This state-of-the-art facility represents a major technological leap forward for Russia's growing aquaculture industry, combining European engineering standards with customized solutions for local production conditions.

The newly operational plant addresses several critical challenges facing Russia's trout farmers, who have traditionally relied on imported feed or lower-quality domestic alternatives. By establishing local production of premium extruded floating feed, the facility promises to boost both the productivity and profitability of Russian fish farms while reducing dependence on foreign suppliers.

Technical Breakthroughs in Feed Production

At the heart of the new facility lies RICHI's advanced twin-screw extrusion technology, specifically optimized for Russia's unique requirements. The extrusion process achieves superior starch gelatinization and protein digestibility, resulting in feed pellets with exceptional water stability and nutrient retention.

Unlike conventional floating feeds that may only remain stable for a few hours, this system produces pellets that maintain their integrity for up to 12 hours in water - a crucial advantage for Russia's large-scale cage farming operations.

The trout fish feed production line incorporates several innovative features:

1. Climate-adapted raw material handling systems designed to operate reliably in Russia's extreme temperature variations, from summer highs to winter lows below -30°C.
2. Precision grinding technology that reduces particle size to below 200 microns, significantly improving nutrient absorption and feed conversion ratios.
3. Advanced preconditioning systems that optimize moisture and temperature parameters for different raw material combinations, ensuring consistent pellet quality.
4. Proprietary extrusion die technology that produces perfectly uniform pellet sizes ranging from 1.5mm for juvenile fish to 6mm for market-size trout.

Economic Impact and Industry Benefits

The commissioning of this facility comes at a pivotal moment for Russia's aquaculture sector. With government initiatives promoting import substitution and domestic food security, the ability to produce high-quality feed locally provides numerous advantages:

• Reduced logistics costs by eliminating long-distance transportation of finished feed;
• Improved freshness and quality control through local production;
• Greater formulation flexibility to meet specific regional requirements;
• Enhanced supply chain reliability independent of international trade fluctuations.

Early production results have exceeded expectations, with feed conversion ratios improving by 15-20% compared to previous feed sources used by local farms. The facility's output will initially supply major trout producers in Northwestern Russia, with potential to expand distribution to other regions as production scales up.

Sustainability and Environmental Considerations

The fish feed mill project incorporates multiple environmentally conscious design elements:

• Energy recovery systems that capture and reuse waste heat from the extrusion process;
• Advanced dust collection technology minimizing particulate emissions;
• Water recycling systems that reduce overall consumption;
• Optimized formulations that minimize phosphorus discharge into aquatic ecosystems.

These features align with Russia's growing emphasis on sustainable aquaculture practices and responsible resource use in food production.

Future Development Potential

The successful launch of this facility establishes a foundation for further expansion. Plans are already underway to:

• Increase production capacity by 50% within the next two years;
• Develop specialized formulations for different trout life stages;
• Implement smart manufacturing technologies for real-time quality monitoring;
• Expand into adjacent product categories such as salmon and sturgeon feeds.

This project represents RICHI Machinery's first major aquafeed production facility in Russia and demonstrates the company's commitment to supporting the country's agricultural modernization efforts. The technological solutions developed for this plant are expected to serve as a model for future feed production projects throughout the CIS region.

With its combination of advanced engineering, local adaptation, and production efficiency, the new trout feed facility positions Russia to strengthen its position in global aquaculture markets while meeting growing domestic demand for high-quality fish protein. The project's success underscores how targeted technology investments can transform agricultural sectors and create new opportunities for local producers.