10–12 T/H Chicken Pellet Making Machine for Feed Plant System in Pakistan

Project Overview and Equipment Configuration

The annual production figure represents the output of the wider manufacturing facility, not the two new feed pellet machines alone. The new equipment was selected for the designated pelleting section, allowing the manufacturer to retain its existing upstream and downstream infrastructure.

Why the Plant Replaced Its Belt-Driven Pellet Mills

The previous machines could still produce pellets, but their transmission systems required regular attention. Belt tension had to be checked frequently, and worn belts needed replacement every three to four months under the customer's operating conditions. These tasks increased maintenance workload and made production scheduling more difficult.

The SZLH420 poultry feed pellet machine uses a gear-driven transmission rather than the conventional belt arrangement used by the customer's older machines. This changes the maintenance requirements and provides a more suitable configuration for the plant's extended production shifts.

• Reduced belt-related maintenance because the main transmission no longer relies on drive belts.
• More predictable maintenance planning through scheduled gearbox oil inspection and replacement.
• Convenient ring die replacement to accommodate different feed formulations.
• Better use of the existing floor area after the plant consolidated its pelleting equipment.
• Compatibility with the existing grinding, mixing, cooling, screening, and conveying stages, subject to the required interface adjustments.

The plant reported approximately 96% operating availability during the first year. Actual availability depends on planned maintenance, die and roller condition, raw material consistency, and the performance of the connected equipment.

SZLH420 Specifications and Ring Die Selection

The plant purchased two SZLH420 machines, each equipped with a 110 kW main motor. The equipment was configured for poultry feed production, with an additional die arrangement for cattle feed.

Different feed formulations place different demands on the die. Pellet diameter alone does not determine production capacity or pellet durability. Die compression ratio, ingredient particle size, fiber content, conditioning temperature, moisture, and steam availability all affect the result.

For starter feed, the 3.5 mm die defines the initial pellet diameter. If the feeding program requires smaller particles for young chicks, a downstream crumbling stage may be needed. The final product form should therefore be confirmed before the plant establishes its production settings.

Production Parameters for Different Feed Products

During configuration, the plant established separate operating targets for its principal feed products. The following table summarizes the project parameters used as starting points for production adjustment.

These values are application-specific starting points rather than universal operating limits. The plant needs to validate the settings against its actual formulations, moisture levels, pellet durability requirements, and cooling performance. In particular, steam addition and conditioning temperature should be adjusted together rather than treated as independent fixed values.

Feed Formulations for the Pakistani Market

The manufacturer's feed recipes use maize, imported soybean meal, rice bran, oilseed meals, oils, minerals, and premixes. Ingredient availability and prices vary by season, so the formulas below represent the project's example formulations rather than a universal recommendation for Pakistani poultry or cattle production.

Broiler starter feed

• 50% ground maize
• 20% soybean meal
• 8% rice bran
• 6% canola meal
• 5% vegetable oil
• 4% fishmeal
• 7% premix

Layer feed

• 45% ground maize
• 15% soybean meal
• 12% rice bran
• 10% limestone
• 6% canola meal
• 5% vegetable oil
• 7% premix

Cattle finishing feed

• 35% ground maize
• 20% wheat bran
• 15% rice bran
• 12% cottonseed meal
• 8% molasses
• 5% canola meal
• 5% limestone

Each formulation totals 100%. Before commercial production, the customer should verify nutrient levels, mineral balance, and ingredient suitability with a qualified animal nutritionist. Cattle feed and poultry feed also require different conditioning and pellet-quality targets, even when processed on the same machine.

How the New Pellet Mills Were Integrated into the Existing Plant

The manufacturer retained its animal feed hammer mills and twin-shaft paddle mixers, each with a stated batch capacity of 6,000 kg. The new pellet mills were connected to the existing material-handling arrangement, with the interface and conveying capacity checked during integration.

1. Raw material preparation. Maize, wheat, and other ingredients are ground to the required particle size before entering the mixing stage.

2. Batch mixing. The twin-shaft paddle mixers blend the ground ingredients with protein sources, oils, minerals, and premixes according to the selected recipe.

3. Pellet mill feeding. Mixed mash is transferred to the pelleting section through the appropriate conveying and surge-bin arrangement.

4. Pellet formation. The SZLH420 machines compress conditioned mash through the selected ring die to produce the required pellet diameter.

5. Cooling and screening. Hot pellets move to the existing coolers and screeners, where temperature and fines are managed before storage or dispatch.

6. Finished feed handling. Accepted pellets are transferred to bulk storage or the bagging and dispatch section.

Replacing three older pellet mills with two SZLH420 chicken feed making machine units reduced the number of machines occupying the pelleting area. The upgrade did not eliminate the need to check the capacity of shared conveyors, coolers, screeners, or other equipment. These components must still accommodate the actual combined production flow.

Operating Experience After 18 Months

During the follow-up, the plant manager reported that the gear-driven machines required substantially less routine transmission maintenance than the previous belt-driven equipment.

“We replaced three older belt-driven mills with two SZLH420 units. The main difference for our maintenance team has been the reduced work associated with belts and tension adjustments. We can plan gearbox maintenance more systematically, and the new machines fit our existing production arrangement well.

“The machines run around 16 hours per day, six days a week. The starter and layer dies have performed well for our production requirements. We also learned that die material needs to be selected according to the actual feed formulation, rather than using the same specification for every product.”

At 16 operating hours per day and six days per week, an 18-month period corresponds to approximately 7,500 operating hours per machine, assuming a consistent schedule throughout that period. Maintenance records should be used to confirm actual hours, die service life, and production tonnage.

The customer initially used a carbon steel die for cattle feed. During operation, the plant observed faster wear with its cottonseed-meal-containing formulation. After reviewing the wear pattern, it switched to a chromium stainless steel die and reported a substantial improvement in service life under its operating conditions. This result should be treated as the customer's experience, since actual die life also depends on metallurgy, heat treatment, ingredient characteristics, and maintenance.

Equipment and Technical Support Before Delivery

Because the project involved replacing machines within an operating feed plant, the pre-sale work focused on integration and maintenance requirements rather than designing a complete factory from scratch.

• Existing-line assessment to identify the intended replacement scope and connection points.
• Die-selection guidance for poultry feed and cattle feed, including the customer's reported wear concerns.
• Control-system coordination to connect the new machines with the plant's existing operating arrangement.
• Steam-demand assessment for the intended production rates and conditioning settings.
• Spare-parts planning for roller shells, die fasteners, belts used elsewhere in the plant, and other applicable wear components.
• Installation and commissioning support, including operator guidance and maintenance training.

For each pellet mill, the preliminary steam demand was estimated at approximately 700–900 kg/h, subject to the actual formulation and operating rate. The plant's boiler and steam distribution system should be checked against the combined demand when both machines operate simultaneously.

Shipping from Qingdao to Karachi

The two SZLH420 pellet mills were shipped from Qingdao, China, to the Port of Karachi. The planned ocean transit was approximately 22 days, followed by inland transport to the customer's facility in Multan, around 950 km by the stated project route. The estimated total transit period was about 32 days, subject to shipping schedules, port handling, customs clearance, and road transport arrangements.

Before dispatch, the buyer and supplier should confirm packing dimensions, shipment weight, unloading equipment, electrical specifications, and the availability of suitable lifting access at the installation site.

Future Expansion in Pakistan

Following the upgrade, the manufacturer planned to add a third SZLH420 at a new facility in Lahore and was evaluating the SZLH508 for a future higher-capacity chicken feed production line.

For a feed manufacturer expanding across Punjab or other Pakistani poultry-producing regions, equipment selection should account for more than nominal tons per hour. The required capacity must match the plant's annual production target, operating schedule, recipe mix, steam supply, cooling capacity, and maintenance arrangements.

A well-integrated chicken pellet making machine for feed plant system in Pakistan can help manufacturers modernize an existing pelleting section without replacing every machine in the factory. RICHI Machinery provides ring die pellet mills and technical support for equipment selection, process integration, and production planning according to each plant's requirements.

Contact RICHI Machinery to discuss your feed formulations, target output, existing equipment, and pelleting requirements. Our team can help assess a suitable machine configuration for your feed manufacturing operation.