5–6 T/H Broiler Feed Pelleting Equipment for Feed Mill System in Bolivia

After reviewing the plant's requirements, RICHI Machinery recommended the SZLH350 ring die pellet mill with a 55 kW main motor and a nominal capacity of 5–6 tons per hour. The machine was selected to complement the existing equipment, allowing the plant to retain its established grinding, mixing, cooling and material-handling systems while upgrading the pelleting stage.

Why the Existing Feed Mill System Needed Additional Pelleting Capacity

The factory operates multiple production stages, and each stage must keep pace with the others to maintain a stable manufacturing schedule. When the pellet mills cannot process conditioned mash as quickly as the upstream equipment supplies it, the entire line becomes less productive. Increasing pelleting capacity can therefore be more practical than replacing equipment throughout the facility.

Before the upgrade, the plant relied on older belt-driven pellet mills. The management team wanted an additional machine with a gear-driven transmission, suitable for regular commercial operation and easier integration with the existing process. The aim was not simply to increase the number of machines, but to add usable capacity without creating new restrictions at the mixer discharge, pellet cooler or bulk handling system.

The new broiler feed pelleting equipment was intended to process starter, grower and finisher formulations. These products differ in pellet diameter, conditioning requirements and resistance to breakage. The plant therefore needed a pellet mill that could accommodate different ring dies and operate consistently under the conditions established for each feed formula.

Selected Equipment and Technical Specifications

The plant selected the SZLH350 ring die pellet mill as an additional production unit. Its gear-driven transmission is designed to transfer power to the main shaft for pellet formation, while the ring die and roller assembly compress conditioned mash into cylindrical pellets. The final output depends on the formula, moisture level, die compression ratio, steam conditioning and operating settings.

The 5–6 T/H rating represents the machine's nominal capacity, not a guaranteed output for every formulation. Starter feed with a higher protein content or a more demanding die specification may run at a different rate from a finisher formula. The plant must evaluate actual throughput during commissioning and coordinate the operating rate with the capacity of its cooling and conveying equipment.

For preliminary layout planning, the plant also needs sufficient space around the pellet mill for the feeder, conditioner, drive assembly, maintenance access and material discharge. The final footprint should be determined from the approved equipment drawings, rather than treating the pellet mill alone as the complete installation area. The 55 kW main motor must be supported by appropriately sized electrical infrastructure, motor protection and grounding.

Ring Die Selection for Different Broiler Growth Stages

The feed manufacturer selected three ring die sizes to support its broiler feeding program. Changing the die allows the same pellet mill to manufacture different pellet diameters, although a die change also requires adjustment of the operating conditions and verification of finished-pellet quality.

• 3.5 mm ring die: Used for starter feed intended for young broilers from approximately 0–14 days. The formulation and conditioning process must support durable pellets while producing a size appropriate for the birds.
• 4.0 mm ring die: Used for grower feed for broilers from approximately 14–28 days. This size provides an intermediate option between starter and finisher products.
• 4.5 mm ring die: Used for finisher feed for broilers from approximately 28–42 days. The larger pellet format is selected according to the plant's product specification and the feeding requirements of the target birds.

Die compression ratio is another important selection factor. A smaller pellet diameter does not automatically require a particular compression ratio, because formula composition, fiber content, fat inclusion and pellet durability also influence die selection. The plant should establish the final compression ratio for each formula through technical evaluation and production trials.

Broiler Feed Ingredients and Processing Requirements in Bolivia

The plant's feed formulations reflect the availability of maize in Bolivia and the need to balance energy, protein, fiber and micronutrients. A representative formulation supplied for this project was:

This example totals 100%. It is a representative processing formulation, not a universal nutritional recommendation for every broiler growth stage. The actual formula should be established by the feed manufacturer's nutritionist, with particular attention to amino acid balance, available phosphorus, calcium, energy density and the specifications of the premix.

Before pelleting, maize and soybean meal are ground to the particle sizes required by the formula, then blended with the other ingredients. The mixed mash passes through a controlled feeding system and conditioner before entering the pellet mill. Steam addition and conditioning temperature must be adjusted to the feed composition and the desired pellet quality.

For reference, the plant's initial operating targets included the following settings for starter and finisher products:

These figures are operating targets for the specified products, not universal settings. The grower formulation requires its own validated parameters. Actual production rate, pellet durability and conditioning requirements should be confirmed through trial runs using the plant's real ingredients.

Integration with the Existing Feed Mill System

The SZLH350 feed pellet machine was added to the existing pelleting section rather than supplied as a complete feed manufacturing line. This approach retained the plant's investment in upstream and downstream equipment while increasing the number of pellet mills available for production.

1. Grinding: The existing animal feed hammer mills prepare maize and soybean meal to the required particle size.
2. Mixing: The twin-shaft paddle mixers blend the ground ingredients, oils and premixes into a uniform mash.
3. Feed distribution: A suitable distribution conveyor directs conditioned production batches to the new pellet mill or the existing units according to the operating schedule.
4. Pelleting: The SZLH350 compresses the conditioned mash through the selected ring die to form the required pellet diameter.
5. Cooling and handling: The finished pellets enter the existing cooling and bulk load-out system, provided that its available capacity is sufficient for the combined output.

The most important integration consideration is the balance between the pellet mills and the common downstream equipment. If multiple mills discharge simultaneously, the cooler, conveying system and storage arrangements must accommodate the combined flow. Controls should coordinate feeding and discharge so that the new machine does not create a bottleneck elsewhere.

For a single additional 55 kW pellet mill, the electrical design should account for the motor's starting current, operating load and interaction with other motors on the same supply. The steam system must also provide suitable pressure and flow for the intended throughput. Boiler sizing cannot be established from the pellet mill's motor power alone; it depends on mash moisture, formula characteristics, conditioning requirements and production rate.

Production Results and Operating Experience

The plant manager reported that the new SZLH350 poultry feed pellet machine improved production efficiency and reduced the maintenance burden associated with the older belt-driven equipment. The mill operates approximately 14 hours per day, six days per week, and had accumulated around 5,000 operating hours by the 16-month follow-up.

"This broiler feed pelleting equipment for feed mill system has improved our production efficiency. The direct-drive gearbox requires less maintenance than our old belt-driven mills. The mill runs about 14 hours per day, 6 days per week. We have put about 5,000 hours on it."

The operating record indicates substantial use of the new machine. However, overall feed mill output depends on the performance of the complete system, including grinding, mixing, conditioning, cooling and material handling. A single pellet mill rated at 5–6 T/H should be evaluated as one contributor to the plant's total annual production, rather than being assumed to account for the full 80,000-ton annual output.

For ongoing quality control, the plant should monitor pellet diameter, moisture after cooling, fines generation and Pellet Durability Index (PDI). The management team's target was a PDI above 92%. That target needs to be verified using the agreed test method and actual production samples, because durability is affected by formulation, conditioning, die selection, cooling and subsequent handling—not by the pellet mill alone.

Shipping to Bolivia Through the Port of Arica

Bolivia is landlocked, so imported machinery must arrive through a seaport in a neighboring country before continuing by road. For this project, the SZLH350 was shipped from Qingdao, China, to the Port of Arica in Chile. The reported ocean transit was approximately 30 days, followed by inland transportation to Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

RICHI prepared the equipment for export shipment and provided the documentation needed for cargo handling and installation planning. The final delivery schedule depends on vessel availability, customs clearance, inland transport arrangements and the route selected by the customer's logistics provider. For future equipment orders, confirming the port-to-factory transport plan before dispatch helps reduce delays during the final delivery stage.

Technical Support for Feed Mill Integration

Adding a pellet mill to an operating feed factory requires coordination between mechanical, electrical and process systems. The plant needs to confirm the connection dimensions, feed distribution arrangement, discharge route and available cooling capacity before installation.

RICHI's technical support for this type of project can include:

• Equipment selection based on the required throughput and existing production configuration.
• Dimensional drawings and connection information for layout preparation.
• Guidance on ring die selection for different broiler feed products.
• Electrical and control interface information for integrating the new machine into the plant's operating system.
• Installation and commissioning guidance, including checks on rotation, lubrication, feeding, conditioning and discharge.
• Recommendations for routine inspection of rollers, dies, drive components and other wear parts.

For reliable long-term operation, the plant should also maintain appropriate spare parts, record operating hours and establish inspection intervals based on actual wear. These measures help identify developing problems before they cause an unplanned production stoppage.

Upgrade Your Broiler Feed Pelleting Capacity in Bolivia

This project demonstrates how broiler feed pelleting equipment for a feed mill system in Bolivia can be upgraded through the addition of a single ring die pellet mill. The SZLH350, with its 55 kW main motor and nominal capacity of 5–6 T/H, was selected to supplement the existing manufacturing equipment without requiring a complete line replacement.

For feed manufacturers planning a similar upgrade, the key considerations are the required pellet sizes, actual production demand, formula characteristics, available electrical power, steam supply and the capacity of the downstream cooling and conveying systems. These factors determine whether an additional pellet mill can increase usable output without shifting the bottleneck to another stage.

RICHI Machinery supplies ring die pellet mills and complete feed processing equipment for poultry feed manufacturers worldwide. Contact our technical team to discuss your current production configuration, target capacity and broiler feed specifications. We can help evaluate a suitable pellet mill and the integration requirements for your feed mill system in Bolivia.