RICHI Salmon Feed Production Line Project Commissioned in Norway

The site looks out over a fjord on Norway's west coast, where the water runs deep and cold—ideal conditions for salmon farming. The new feed plant sits above the shoreline, its silos visible from the water, supplying operations that extend into the open Atlantic.

Market Background

Norway produces more than half the world's farmed salmon, an industry built on technology, biology, and logistics. Feed represents about 50 percent of production cost, and feed quality directly affects growth rates, feed conversion, and fish health. Small improvements in any of these translate to significant profit differences over a production cycle.

The customer, an established salmon farmer with operations throughout the region, previously purchased feed from European suppliers. Rising prices and supply chain disruptions during recent years pushed them toward vertical integration. Building their own feed plant gives them control over formulation and inventory while removing third-party margins.

Raw Material and Feed Formulation

Salmon require high-protein diets with significant oil inclusion—typically 35-45 percent protein and 20-30 percent oil, depending on life stage. Marine ingredients like fishmeal and fish oil have traditionally dominated formulations, but price and sustainability concerns have driven partial substitution with plant proteins and oils.

The formulation for this plant:

• Fishmeal and soybean meal provide the protein base, with ratios adjusted based on market prices
• Corn gluten and wheat flour supply energy through digestible carbohydrates
• Fish oil delivers essential omega-3 fatty acids required for salmon health
• Vitamins and mineral premix ensure complete nutrition

Maintaining nutrient integrity through processing is critical. Overheating degrades protein quality. Oxidation destroys sensitive fatty acids. Moisture content affects both storage stability and feed intake.

Process Design and Technical Features

RICHI designed the fish feed production line specifically for salmon feed requirements:

• Micro-batching system achieves dosing accuracy within 0.1 percent for vitamins and minerals
• Fine grinding reduces particle size to the narrow distribution required for salmon digestion
• Twin-screw fish feed extruder with configured screw profiles for high-oil formulations
• Multi-layer drying removes moisture gently without case hardening
• Vacuum oil coating achieves high fat inclusion without oxidation
• Cooling, screening, and packaging complete the line

The vacuum coater deserves particular attention. Salmon feeds require oil levels that cannot be achieved through conventional atmospheric coating without damaging pellet structure. The vacuum process draws oil into the pellet interior, achieving high inclusion while maintaining physical integrity.

Installation and Commissioning

Equipment arrived in December, shipped through the North Sea to a nearby port. Winter installation in Norway means working around weather—short days, occasional snow, cold that stiffens hydraulic fluids. The crew managed, completing mechanical assembly and electrical integration by January.

Trial production confirmed the line's ability to maintain 3 tons per hour with pellets floating for more than 12 hours—the customer's primary specification. Laboratory analysis verified nutrient retention within required ranges.

Regional and Environmental Impact

The plant reduces the customer's exposure to feed market volatility while ensuring consistent quality for their salmon. Local employment increases by several positions. And because the plant is sized to their specific needs, transportation distances for feed shorten compared to purchased product shipped from elsewhere in Europe.

For RICHI Machinery, the fish feed mill project establishes a reference in the demanding Norwegian aquaculture market—one that will support proposals to other salmon producers considering similar vertical integration.