Continuous Dryer Machine in Argentina

Why This Argentine Agro-Processor Needed a Continuous Dryer Machine

This company has its roots in family farming. For years, they produced mainly grains and oilseeds for the export market. But with rising domestic demand for premium pet food and healthy snacks, the owners saw an opportunity to process their own raw materials locally and capture more value.

They invested in extruders for floating dog and cat feed, plus cutting and slicing equipment for seasonal vegetables like zucchini, carrots, and sweet potatoes. However, the older drying solution—a small batch tray dryer—quickly became a bottleneck. It lacked the capacity to handle large batches of moist extruded feed and could not dry vegetable slices evenly at scale.

After several test runs and customer complaints about inconsistent moisture levels in pet feed and limp, soggy vegetable chips, the company realized that to grow their operation, they needed to switch to a continuous drying solution.

Choosing the Right continuous dryer machine for Argentina's Needs

After consulting with several suppliers, they chose a RICHI continuous dryer machine—a reliable mesh belt dryer designed for multi-product drying. They selected the DHG-500 model, with the following parameters:

This size offered the right balance between capacity and energy efficiency for a medium-sized agro-processor. The continuous design of the continuous dryer machine in Argentina meant they could load product steadily, avoiding the frequent stops and starts that killed productivity with the old batch dryer.

The Main Raw Materials for This continuous dryer machine in Argentina

This Argentine processor mainly dries:

• Extruded dog and cat feed pellets made from corn, soybean meal, and chicken by-products.
• Sliced seasonal vegetables like sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and carrots, which are lightly salted and packed as healthy snacks.
• They also plan to expand into drying soy protein chunks as meat substitutes.

The pet feed makes up about 70% of total dryer usage, while vegetables and other experiments account for the remaining 30%. In peak harvest months, the continuous dryer machine in Argentina operates around the clock, switching between feed and vegetables with minimal downtime thanks to the belt dryer's easy-clean design.

How the continuous dryer machine in Argentina Works in Practice

Every day, extruded feed or sliced vegetables are fed evenly onto the moving belt. Hot air passes through the product, removing moisture step by step as the belt moves through temperature-controlled zones. The drum speed, air flow, and temperatures are adjusted for each product type:

• For extruded dog feed, a higher inlet temperature ensures quick drying of the moist outer layer to maintain pellet shape.
• For vegetable slices, lower temperatures are used in the final zones to protect color and nutrients.

Operators monitor the drying process via a simple control panel and make real-time adjustments based on moisture tests. Compared to the old batch dryer, the continuous dryer machine in Argentina keeps product moisture within a tight tolerance, which is crucial for shelf life and packaging.

Why the DHG-500 continuous dryer machine in Argentina Was the Best Fit

Argentina's mid-sized processors often have to work with limited space and variable power supply in rural areas. The DHG-500 model continuous dryer machine in Argentina strikes the right balance:

• Long enough for steady, gentle drying but compact enough to fit in an existing warehouse.
• Single-layer belt reduces complexity for a team still getting used to continuous drying.
• The robust design can handle raw feed with varying moisture, from wet extruded pellets to high-water-content vegetables.
• Maintenance is simple, with parts available locally through RICHI's service network.

How This continuous dryer machine in Argentina Adds Value Beyond Pet Feed

The beauty of this continuous dryer machine in Argentina is its flexibility. In the off-season, when extruded feed volumes dip, the team uses the same continuous dryer machine for:

• Small-batch trials of new vegetable chip flavors, like beetroot and pumpkin.
• Limited runs of dried herb mixes for local restaurants.
• Experimenting with dehydrated soy chunks to test the plant-based meat market.

By making full use of the equipment year-round, the company gets a faster ROI and more consistent revenue streams.

Real Results for the Agro-Processor

Switching to the RICHI continuous dryer machine in Argentina brought tangible improvements:

• Output doubled compared to the old tray dryer—now they can dry up to 12 tons of extruded feed per day.
• Product quality improved: moisture uniformity is tighter, helping them pass strict retail tests.
• They won contracts to supply private-label pet food brands in Buenos Aires.
• The vegetable snack line found shelf space in national supermarket chains, promoted as a local, healthy snack alternative.

How This continuous dryer machine Supports Argentina's Agro-Processing Growth

Argentina's food processors face global competition and rising standards for food safety and sustainability. By investing in efficient equipment like a continuous dryer machine, this company now controls more of its value chain and sells branded products instead of bulk raw commodities.

With energy prices rising, the high thermal efficiency of continuous dryer machine in Argentina helps keep costs in check. And because it’s designed for easy maintenance, local technicians can service it without flying in expensive overseas engineers.

RICHI's Role: More Than Just Equipment

When this processor first contacted RICHI, they had never used continuous drying. RICHI's engineering team didn't just ship a machine—they:

• Ran test drying cycles with customer's real feed and vegetables.
• Trained operators on product-specific settings for different raw materials.
• Provided spare parts and after-sales support from a nearby Latin America service center.
• Helped design the layout to integrate the dryer into the existing production flow with minimal disruption.

More Than Pet Feed: A Gateway to New Products

The biggest lesson for the customer has been that a continuous dryer machine is not a one-product solution. With the same continuous dryer machine in Argentina, they're now exploring dried mushrooms, garlic flakes, and even fish feed pellets. By changing feed speed, drum rotation, and air temperatures, they can test small batches easily.

In the long run, they plan to add a small packaging line to supply snack packs direct to convenience stores, boosting profit margins even more.

Why RICHI continuous dryer machines Are a Smart Investment in Argentina

In Argentina's competitive agro-industry, staying ahead means modernizing step by step. This company didn't jump into a multi-million-dollar new plant overnight—they started by solving their biggest bottleneck: drying.

Thanks to the robust continuous dryer machine in Argentina, they now run a cleaner, safer, more efficient operation with higher-quality products that meet both local and export standards.

If you're in Argentina's agro-processing industry—whether it's pet feed, vegetable snacks, herbs, or protein products—the continuous dryer machine in Argentinas can help you handle moisture control with industrial consistency.

Ready to boost your drying capacity? Talk to RICHI Machinery today and discover how the right continuous dryer machine can unlock new profit streams and keep your operation running smoothly season after season!