5–6 T/H Corn Grinder for Chicken Feed in France

RICHI's proposed solution focused on the grinding stage rather than unnecessary changes elsewhere in the farm. The project demonstrates an important consideration for on-farm feed production: replacing one machine can be effective, provided its capacity, electrical requirements, dust handling and discharge arrangement are compatible with the equipment already in service.

Project Scope and Selected Equipment

The farm selected a RICHI SFSP66×60 hammer mill for grinding corn and other suitable dry cereal ingredients. The equipment was intended to replace the existing grinder while retaining the farm's established mixing process.

The reference grinding capacity is higher than the farm's daily requirement, so the machine does not need to operate continuously to meet normal demand. Actual output depends on the selected screen, grain condition, required particle distribution and feeding rate. The final model selection should also account for the farm's electrical supply and the duty cycle of the existing installation.

Why the Farm Replaced Only the Grinding Machine

The decision was based on the condition of the existing equipment rather than a desire to modernize every stage at once. The old grinder was the main source of maintenance interruptions, while the downstream mixer remained suitable for the farm's feed formulations.

• Grinding consistency: Corn needed to be reduced to a more uniform particle distribution before mixing.
• Maintenance planning: Replacing the aging mill reduced reliance on a machine that had become increasingly difficult to keep available.
• Process continuity: Retaining the existing mixer avoided the need to redesign the complete feed preparation area.
• Controlled investment: The customer could address the immediate production bottleneck without purchasing equipment that was not yet required.

For this type of project, compatibility matters as much as the grinder's headline capacity. Before installation, the mill's inlet and discharge positions, motor protection, feeder arrangement, dust extraction and conveyor connections must be checked against the existing plant layout.

Grinding Corn for Broiler Mash Feed

Corn is a major energy ingredient in the customer's poultry ration, accounting for approximately 55–60% of the complete feed formula. Wheat, soybean meal, seasonal sunflower meal, calcium carbonate, salt and premixes make up the other ingredients.

Based on the stated daily feed volume and corn inclusion rate, the farm's corn requirement is approximately 3–5 tons per day. This is a calculated planning range rather than a separately measured grinding total. The required grinding schedule will vary with the actual formulation and the quantity of feed produced each day.

For this farm, the target particle size for broiler mash was approximately 0.8–1.2 mm. The objective was not simply to produce the finest possible powder. The grinding process needed to provide an appropriate particle distribution while avoiding excessive fines and supporting uniform blending with the other ingredients.

The screen aperture should be selected and verified through a grinding trial. A screen's nominal hole size does not guarantee that every ground particle will fall within the target range. Sieve analysis provides a more useful assessment of the resulting particle distribution, particularly when the feed formula or required grind changes.

How the Replacement Grinder Fits into the Existing Process

The equipment arrangement follows a straightforward sequence. Corn and other approved dry cereal ingredients enter the grinding stage, and the ground material is transferred to the existing mixing process.

1. Raw-material inspection: Check incoming corn for moisture variation, foreign matter and signs of deterioration. Grain must be suitable for mechanical grinding.
2. Controlled feeding: Meter the material into the hammer mill at a rate appropriate for the motor load and selected screen.
3. Size reduction: The rotating hammers impact the grain, reducing it until the particles can pass through the screen.
4. Discharge and dust handling: Transfer the ground material to the existing conveying arrangement, with suitable aspiration and dust collection around the grinding system.
5. Mixing: Combine the ground cereals with protein ingredients, minerals and premixes according to the farm's formulation.
6. Feed use: Prepare the finished mash for the broiler flock without adding a new pelleting stage to this project.

The dust extraction arrangement deserves particular attention. Fine corn particles can become airborne during grinding and transfer, affecting housekeeping, operator exposure and equipment cleanliness. The airflow, cyclone or filter arrangement must be matched to the grinder and the existing discharge layout. Combustible grain dust also requires appropriate prevention and protection measures under the applicable site and workplace requirements.

Because the customer was purchasing a replacement feed crusher machine rather than a complete chicken feed production line, the interface review was an important part of the project. A higher-capacity grinder cannot improve overall output if the downstream conveyor or mixer cannot accept the material at the required rate.

Particle Size, Energy Use and Routine Maintenance

The new mill was intended to address three practical operating concerns: inconsistent grinding, maintenance interruptions and the time required to prepare cereal ingredients. These objectives need to be assessed separately because they depend on different operating factors.

• Particle size: Use a suitable screen and confirm the output through representative samples rather than relying on visual inspection alone.
• Motor loading: Keep feeding within the mill's working range. Excessive feed rates can overload the drive, while unnecessarily low rates can reduce productive use of the installed capacity.
• Hammer condition: Inspect wear regularly and check for uneven wear that could affect grinding performance.
• Screen condition: Look for blockage, damage and wear that could alter throughput or particle distribution.
• Dust collection: Check filters, ducts and discharge connections to maintain effective material recovery and safe housekeeping.
• Electrical protection: Confirm motor protection, isolation and control settings before commissioning and after maintenance.

The machine's nominal power rating alone cannot establish energy efficiency per tonne. A meaningful comparison requires operating-hour records, actual material throughput and electrical consumption under comparable grinding conditions. The same principle applies to maintenance savings: the most useful measure is the change in unplanned downtime and maintenance requirements after the replacement.

Shipping and Installation in France

The equipment was arranged for sea freight to Le Havre, one of France's major international ports. Export documentation was prepared for the shipment, and the customer organized domestic transport from the port to the farm in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

Since the project involved a single hammer mill, installation planning centered on the existing building and equipment interfaces rather than civil construction for a new production line. The installation team needed to verify the foundation or support frame, lifting access, electrical connections, feed inlet, discharge connection and dust extraction arrangement before the machine was placed into service.

Remote engineering support can help with installation checks and operating guidance, but the final electrical connection, guarding, dust-control provisions and commissioning checks must be completed in accordance with the supplied equipment documentation and applicable French and EU requirements.

Customer Feedback and Operational Priorities

“We were pleasantly surprised by how smoothly the RICHI hammer mill integrated with our old mixer. Grinding time has been cut by nearly 40%, and the feed quality has improved noticeably. Our chickens are responding better to the feed, with more uniform weight gain. It was a solid investment.”

The customer also valued the pre-sales consultation, operating manual and remote setup assistance. The reported reduction in grinding time is a customer-reported result; a verified energy-saving figure would require separate electricity and production records.

What This Project Means for Other French Poultry Farms

A corn grinder for chicken feed in France does not necessarily require a complete feed plant investment. Farms that already have usable mixing equipment may be able to improve their process by replacing the grinding machine alone, provided the selected unit matches their actual workload and existing utilities.

Before selecting a replacement, poultry farmers should establish four basic requirements:

• Daily and peak-hour grain grinding demand, including the corn share of the finished feed.
• The required particle-size distribution for the intended mash or downstream pelleting process.
• Available electrical power, material transfer capacity and dust extraction provisions.
• The maintenance, screen-change and cleaning requirements of the proposed machine.

RICHI Machinery supplies hammer mills and other feed processing equipment for farms and commercial feed producers. For a replacement grinding project, provide the main raw materials, target particle size, daily processing volume and details of the existing mixer and conveying system. These details help establish whether a standalone corn grinder is sufficient or whether changes to the surrounding equipment are also necessary.