RICHI Machinery Completes 6T/H Pine Pellet Production Line in Chile

Recently, we complete a 6t/h complete pine pellet production line for a timber processing company in southern Chile. The client operates a mid-sized sawmill specializing in pine wood products, including furniture components and construction materials. With abundant pine plantations in the Araucanía and Los Lagos regions, the company sought to diversify its business by converting wood waste into high-value energy pellets.

Chile’s timber industry generates substantial amounts of pine residues, including sawdust, wood shavings, bark, and small branches. The client wanted to address both waste management challenges and energy product opportunities. By processing these materials into uniform pine pellets, the company can produce clean-burning fuel for domestic and industrial markets, meeting growing demand for renewable biomass energy.

The client’s objectives included:

• Utilizing leftover pine sawdust and chips to reduce environmental impact
• Producing consistent 6–8 mm pellets suitable for residential and industrial heating
• Ensuring high production efficiency while keeping energy consumption low
• Integrating the new line within existing infrastructure without extensive construction

Plant Design and Production Process

The 6t/h complete pine pellet production line was implemented in an expanded section of the existing sawmill, leveraging the client’s existing storage facilities for raw materials. RICHI Machinery designed the plant with a focus on process efficiency, flexibility, and minimal downtime. The production flow includes:

• Raw material preparation: Pine sawdust and wood chips are screened and classified. Larger wood chips are reduced to 3–5 mm using a hammer mill for optimal pelletizing.
• Moisture adjustment: A conditioning system adjusts raw material moisture to 12–15% to ensure dense, high-quality pellets.
• Pelletizing: A ring die pellet mill compresses the pine particles into 6–8 mm cylindrical pellets.
• Cooling and screening: Finished pellets are cooled to prevent deformation and screened to remove fine particles.
• Packing and storage: Automated bagging ensures uniform packaging ready for market distribution.

The plant also features dust collection systems and sawdust conveyors, improving safety and cleanliness, which is particularly important given Chile’s stringent environmental regulations for timber processing facilities.

Equipment Configuration and Technical Details

RICHI Machinery supplied a full set of high-performance equipment tailored to the client’s requirements:

• Hammer mill: Reduces wood chips to fine sawdust for pelletization
• Single-shaft conditioner: Adds steam and moisture to improve pellet density
• Ring die wood pellet mill: 6t/h output capacity producing 6–8 mm pine pellets
• Rotary cooler: Reduces pellet temperature and stabilizes moisture content
• Vibrating screen: Ensures uniform pellet size and separates fines
• Conveyors and packing machine: Automates material handling and bagging

The equipment is engineered for continuous operation, with durable components designed to withstand high-volume production. Energy-efficient motors and variable frequency drives optimize power consumption under Chile’s three-phase 380V supply.

Operational Advantages and Applications

The 6t/h complete pine pellet production line offers numerous benefits to the client:

1. Waste utilization: Transforms sawmill residues into a marketable product, reducing disposal costs.
2. High-quality fuel pellets: Uniform size and high density ensure consistent combustion and energy efficiency.
3. Revenue diversification: Pine pellets can be sold for residential heating, industrial boilers, or exported to neighboring countries.
4. Low operational labor: Automated handling reduces the need for manual intervention.
5. Environmental compliance: Reduces sawmill dust emissions and promotes sustainable biomass utilization.

The line also allows the client to balance seasonal fluctuations in timber production while maintaining a steady output of pellets, providing a reliable revenue stream throughout the year.

Logistics and Shipping

All equipment for this 6t/h pine wood pellet production line was shipped from Qingdao Port, China, to Valparaíso Port in Chile. RICHI Machinery coordinated the sea freight, customs clearance, and local logistics, ensuring timely delivery and smooth on-site installation. Local staff received hands-on training covering operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting to guarantee long-term reliability.

Client Feedback and Success Story

After one month of operations, the client shared positive feedback:

“RICHI Machinery delivered exactly what we needed. The 6t/h pine pellet production line runs reliably and produces pellets of consistent size and quality. The team was highly professional, supporting us through installation, training, and start-up. We are now able to convert our wood waste into a profitable, environmentally friendly product.”

The client highlighted equipment reliability, ease of operation, and strong after-sales support as key reasons for their satisfaction. They particularly appreciated the flexibility of the biomass pellet production line, allowing the use of both sawdust and small wood chips without compromising pellet quality.

Strategic Significance

Chile’s growing biomass energy market makes this project a strategic move for the timber industry. By adopting RICHI Machinery’s pellet production technology, the client not only enhances profitability but also demonstrates commitment to sustainability. The project exemplifies how timber residues, often considered waste, can be converted into high-value energy products.

The 6t/h complete pine pellet production line in Chile is a model of RICHI Machinery’s expertise in designing flexible, efficient, and environmentally friendly biomass pellet plants. With comprehensive services including engineering, equipment supply, installation, training, and after-sales support, RICHI ensures clients achieve maximum operational efficiency and economic benefits.

This biomass pellet project reinforces RICHI Machinery’s position as a trusted global supplier of pellet production systems. The client in Chile now operates a reliable, high-capacity pine pellet production line, capable of transforming sawmill residues into marketable energy pellets. With professional design, quality equipment, and ongoing support, RICHI Machinery continues to help clients worldwide maximize the value of biomass resources.