RICHI Floating Fish Feed Line in Thailand Enters Trial Production Phase

A 2-ton-per-hour floating fish feed production line supplied by RICHI MACHINERY has moved into trial operation in central Thailand. The line serves a regional aquaculture producer focused on tilapia and catfish farming, two of the country's most commercially significant freshwater species.

The client's facility processes locally sourced corn, soybean meal, rice bran, and fishmeal into extruded floating pellets designed to match the feeding behavior of surface-feeding fish.

Precision Extrusion Technology

The fish feed production line integrates several key processing stages: micro ingredient batching for precise additive inclusion, a fine grinding system to achieve optimal particle size, a twin-screw fish feed extruder configured for high-expansion floating feed, a multi-layer dryer for moisture control, an oil coating unit for energy supplementation, and a cooling and packing section for final product handling.

With output capacity rated at approximately 2 tons per hour, the line is sized appropriately for small-to-medium aquaculture operations—a segment that continues to expand across Southeast Asia.

RICHI's on-site engineering team conducted extensive adjustments to the extrusion parameters during commissioning. The result: stable pellet buoyancy exceeding 12 hours, allowing fish adequate time to consume feed before sinking. Expansion ratios were also fine-tuned to suit the mouth size and digestion physiology of tilapia and catfish.

Commissioning Results

Initial trial runs showed consistent pellet size distribution, smooth surface finish, and minimal fines generation—factors that directly influence feed conversion ratios on farms. Oil absorption tests confirmed that coating levels met the nutritional targets specified in the client's formulations, effectively boosting the energy density of the final feed.

Supporting Aquaculture Growth

Thailand remains one of Southeast Asia's most established aquaculture hubs, with significant production concentrated in the central plains. This floating fish feed machine line gives the customer greater control over supply chain costs by reducing dependence on imported finished feed. Perhaps more important, it allows rapid formulation adjustments based on local ingredient availability and changing fish prices—flexibility that prebagged imports cannot match.

RICHI Machinery continues to provide formulation support and on-site technical assistance throughout the startup phase, helping the client optimize production parameters as they scale toward full capacity.