This is a project about belt dryer for biomass in Italy. The customer is a well-organized farmers' association with about 40 member farms across Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna. For decades, they produced wheat, corn, and barley — selling the grain and baling the straw for bedding or plowing it back into fields.
This is a project about belt dryer for biomass in Italy. Italy has always had a rich agricultural tradition — from the wheat fields of Emilia-Romagna to vineyards in Tuscany. But in recent years, with the push for cleaner energy and a circular economy, more Italian farmers and rural cooperatives are discovering the hidden value in agricultural waste: straw, pruning residues, olive pomace, and even orchard trimmings are no longer seen as waste but as feedstock for biomass pellet production.
This is a real story about how one mid-sized agricultural cooperative in northern Italy decided to invest in a belt dryer for biomass to process wheat straw and corn stover into high-quality biomass pellets. Their goal? Reduce moisture content efficiently, improve pellet quality, and meet the strict storage standards demanded by buyers in Germany and Austria.
Name:
biomass drying system
Country:
Italy
Date:
2024
Capacity:
customized
Dryer Type:
Mesh belt
Model:
DHG-2000
Heating Type:
Electric heating
Drying Area:
58 m²
The customer is a well-organized farmers' association with about 40 member farms across Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna. For decades, they produced wheat, corn, and barley — selling the grain and baling the straw for bedding or plowing it back into fields.
However, over the last five years, local demand for renewable heating fuels like straw pellets and biomass briquettes has increased sharply. Several small rural towns in northern Italy now use biomass boilers for municipal heating to cut carbon emissions. This cooperative saw an opportunity to turn low-value straw into a profitable energy product.
They already had a straw pellet mill line: a baler, shredder, hammer mill, straw pellet making machine, and bagging equipment. But they struggled with moisture. The local climate means baled straw often sits wet for weeks during the rainy season.
High moisture caused issues during pelletizing: the straw clogged dies, pellets crumbled, and storage molds were common. That's why they needed a robust belt dryer for biomass in Italy — a single machine to slot into their existing process.
After visiting trade fairs in Verona and researching online, they shortlisted a few belt dryer suppliers and finally chose RICHI's DHG-2000 model for biomass drying.
Technical specs for this biomass pellet project:
They picked the DHG-2000 because it balances high capacity with precise moisture control. The 5-layer continuous belt system makes sure heat and airflow dry straw flakes evenly — a critical point for this cooperative because uneven drying caused storage hot spots in the past.
Italy produces millions of tons of straw and corn stover every harvest. For this cooperative, about 70% of their biomass feedstock is wheat straw, while 30% comes from corn stover collected after harvest. They bale and transport it to their processing shed where it's shredded and milled before drying.
Before the RICHI belt dryer, moisture content averaged 35–40% for baled straw. Their target for pelletizing is below 12% — that’s the sweet spot for smooth pressing in the straw pellet mill and safe storage for up to 12 months.
Before the DHG-2000 arrived, the cooperative used an old rotary drum dryer that burned part of the straw as fuel. It worked, but it was inefficient, energy-hungry, and caused frequent product scorching, which lowered pellet quality. Moreover, it couldn't handle peak harvest volumes — the bottleneck limited their growth.
With the new belt dryer for biomass in Italy, things have changed dramatically:
This improvement didn't just fix a technical issue — it opened new markets. Buyers in Austria and Germany demand straw pellets with consistent low moisture, high durability, and no mold. The cooperative can now sign longer-term supply contracts for heating fuel in small district heating plants and local farm boilers.
They also tested corn stover pellets. The belt dryer for biomass in Italy handled the material with only minor adjustments. This flexibility lets them switch feedstocks according to season and market price, maximizing revenue all year round.
You might wonder why they didn't replace their whole line with new machines. The simple answer: the straw pellet mill, pellet press, and bagger worked fine. The bottleneck was moisture — solving it first made the most sense. Plus, a phased investment kept their financial risk low and operations running.
When they do expand again, they already plan to upgrade to an automatic bagging system and a larger straw pellet production line — and they trust RICHI will have the right solution when that time comes.
The cooperative's engineers looked at Italian, German, and Chinese suppliers. They chose RICHI for three practical reasons:
This belt dryer for biomass in Italy helps more than just the cooperative's bottom line. Farmers who once struggled to find buyers for surplus straw can now earn stable income for what was often burned or left to rot.
Meanwhile, local municipalities gain cleaner renewable fuel for heating schools and community buildings. It’s a win-win for the climate and the rural economy — exactly the kind of story the EU’s Green Deal loves to see.
With the DHG-2000 belt dryer for biomass in Italy running smoothly, the cooperative is exploring other local biomass streams. Orchard prunings from apple farms, olive pomace from local oil mills, and even vineyard trimmings could all be tested in the same belt dryer for biomass.
They know the drying technology works — and that opens doors to new products and partnerships. Next year, they plan to pilot a mixed-fiber pellet: 50% straw, 50% orchard waste — a unique Italian blend that could command premium prices in eco-friendly heating markets.
If you're an Italian cooperative, farm, or rural business looking at straw pellet mills or biomass pelletizing, remember: drying is half the battle. The best straw pellet press in the world won’t perform well with wet, uneven feedstock.
A modern biomass belt dryer, biomass conveyor dryer, or continuous biomass belt dryer like RICHI's DHG series can solve that bottleneck and unlock new profits without massive risk.
When you invest in a belt dryer for biomass from RICHI, you're buying more than a machine. You get:
RICHI's solutions help agri-businesses turn waste into value — efficiently, sustainably, profitably.
If you're ready to stop losing money to wet straw and storage mold, it's time to talk to RICHI. Our belt dryer for biomass in Italy delivers the consistent drying performance you need to make top-grade pellets for demanding markets.
Contact RICHI Machinery today — let's build a cleaner, more profitable future for Italian agriculture together, one dry bale at a time.
Having the right mix of reliable, high-quality pellet machine and pelletizing systems and expert support is essential to your success. Watch how our end-to-end feed pellet plant solutions have helped our customers optimize their performance.
Our customized and future-proofed turnkey pellet plant solutions is designed with you at the core. From vision to reality and beyond, our team stays connected with yours. Giving you peace-of-mind with an expert at your side.
At RICHI, we go beyond project completion. With RICHI Servicee, we’re your dedicated partners in success. Count on us for expert guidance, minimal downtime, and optimized productivity. Choose RICHI for unmatched service and support.
Meet global product demands and quality standards with industry-leading pellet plant design, engineering, equipment, and construction services for pellet processors.
Your Partner Beyond Project Completion
2000+ cases
RICHI is the leading designer, manufacturer and builder of pellet plants in the world, completing over 2000 projects in 140 countries across 6 continents.
Read More
Increase plant productivity, profitability, and safety by integrating high quality equipment into your pellet production line. Over the years, RICHI has become China's top pellet equipment manufacturer. At the same time, RICHI has established valuable partnerships with the world's leading component and raw material manufacturers to bring you the best there is in technology, automation, and efficiency in pelleting plant machinery.
For nearly 30 years, RICHI has been providing best-in-class pellet plant equipment and services to clients across a variety of industries, sizes, and needs. We pride ourselves on the knowledge and skill that each team member possesses – from our technical sales team to our process design engineers. You can count on RICHI Machinery to take your operation to the next level of innovation, quality, and success.
Need help with your pellet manufacturing plant project? Contact us today.
ANIMAL FEED
BIOMASS
WOOD
ORGANIC FERTILIZER
AQUA FEED
CAT LITTER
MUNICIPAL WASTE RECYCLING
SPECIAL PELLET PRODUCTION
RICHI Machinery continues to deliver world class pellet mill equipment, pellet plant engineering and project solutions that add value to our customers in the animal feed, wood waste, agriculture waste, organic fertilizer, cat litter and special pellet products industries. Throughout the years, we RICHI Machinery have built strong brand, becoming industry-leading pellet machine manufacturer. We value integrity, promise quality, and prioritize your success.
Learn MoreWith our expert team, we precisely implement your process engineering requirements in pellet mill and pelletizing plant systems. No matter which industry you’re in – we understand your needs and deliver solutions that meet the highest standards.
At RICHI, quality comes first. Our pellet making machine and related pellet line equipment undergo rigorous quality controls to ensure they meet the highest standards. Rely on products that are durable, safe, and efficient.
With decades of experience in pellet machine and pellet production line production, we have earned a reputation as a trusted partner in various industries. Our expertise allows us to cover a wide range of applications.
Not only do we offer premium pelleting equipment, but we are also experts at designing, building, installing, and maintaining facilities from the ground up. Our expertise is within pellt plant process design, discovering the most efficient, productive, and profitable way to handle your materials in an end-to-end cycle.
Keeping in touch with us is an effective way to solve all your problems. If you have any needs or questions, please leave your contact information, then RICHI technical consultants will send design, quotation, videos to your mailbox. You can also contact us directly via WhatsApp: +86 13838389622
Copyright©2015-2024 by HENAN RICHI MACHINERY CO., LTD. All rights reserved.