This is a project regarding a dog food pellet cooler in Australia. A premium pet food manufacturer in New South Wales, Australia, near Sydney, was producing grain-free kibble for dogs. The recipe was high in protein and fat – 35% protein from chicken meal and lamb meal, and 18% fat from chicken fat and fish oil. The challenge was cooling. The kibble was exiting the extruder at 90-95°C with the fat distributed throughout the pellet.
A premium pet food manufacturer in New South Wales, Australia, near Sydney, was producing grain-free kibble for dogs. The recipe was high in protein and fat – 35% protein from chicken meal and lamb meal, and 18% fat from chicken fat and fish oil. The challenge was cooling. The kibble was exiting the extruder at 90-95°C with the fat distributed throughout the pellet.
During slow cooling in their old cooler, the fat migrated to the surface, making the kibble greasy and sticky. The surface fat also oxidized faster, reducing shelf life. Customers complained that the kibble left oily residue on their hands and in their dogs' bowls.
The production manager (let's call him David) explained the problem: "Grain-free kibble has high fat content – 18% compared to 12-14% in standard kibble. The fat is liquid at extrusion temperatures. If we cool too slowly, it migrates to the surface. The kibble becomes greasy. Customers hate it. We needed a cooler that could lock the fat inside the pellet."
The plant was producing 6 tons/hour of 10-12mm grain-free dog kibble. They had an old counterflow cooler with poor air distribution. David started looking for a dog food pellet cooler that could handle high-fat kibble with rapid, uniform cooling.
Name:
Country:
Australia
Date:
2025
Capacity:
6-8 tons/hour
Model:
SKLF17x17
Main Motor Power:
1.5kW
Cooling time:
6-15 minutes
Final temperature:
Ambient +3-5°C – locks fat inside pellet
From the cooler table, the SKLF17x17 (1.5kW) was selected. Why this model?
David chose the SKLF17x17 dog food pellet cooler to replace their inefficient cooler. The new cooler would be installed directly after the extruder.
Australia's pet food market is sophisticated. The plant produces:
The kibble is used for:
The SKLF17x17 dog food pellet cooler arrived at the Port of Sydney (Port Botany) – New South Wales' largest port.
Shipping time from Qingdao to Sydney is about 20-25 days. The machine was packed in a 40-foot container with:
Customs clearance in Sydney took about 3 days. Total landed cost was about 20% higher than the FOB price.
Installation took two weeks. The old cooler was removed. The new SKLF17x17 was positioned on a raised platform to allow gravity discharge into the bagging line. A concrete foundation (200mm thick) was poured.
The electrical hookup required 415V, 50Hz three-phase (Australian standard). The 1.5kW discharge motor plus hydraulic pack required a 30-amp breaker.
The first test run was with 12mm grain-free kibble at 92°C, 18% fat. The cooler was set to 9 minutes cooling time. Kibble temperature exiting: 24°C (ambient was 20°C). Surface oil: Minimal – fat locked inside. No greasy residue on hands.
After six months of operation, David documented the following results:
Before (old cooler – poor air distribution):
After (SKLF17x17 counterflow pellet cooler – uniform cooling):
Production impact:
The machine cost delivered approximately AUD $45,000 (about €28,000). Payback period was about 3-4 months based on elimination of returned product and customer retention.
Here's what David said after six months (paraphrased from a conversation):
"Grain-free kibble has 18% fat. When it's hot, the fat is liquid. If you cool too slowly, the fat migrates to the surface. The kibble becomes greasy. Our customers complained about oily residue on their hands.
The SKLF17x17 changed that. We set the cooling time to 9 minutes – fast enough to lock the fat inside the pellet before it can migrate. The kibble comes out dry to the touch. No greasy residue.
The uniform air distribution is critical. No hot spots. Every kibble cools at the same rate. The swing tray discharge is gentle – no breakage of the large 12mm kibble.
Would I recommend this cooler? Yes. For any pet food manufacturer producing high-fat grain-free kibble, rapid, uniform cooling is essential. The SKLF17x17 paid for itself in four months."
High-fat pet food (15-20% fat) has unique cooling requirements:
Fat migration mechanism: At high temperatures (90-95°C), fat is liquid and mobile. During slow cooling, liquid fat moves to the pellet surface. Rapid cooling (under 10 minutes) solidifies the fat before it can migrate.
Surface oil problems: Surface fat makes kibble greasy (poor customer experience), accelerates oxidation (shorter shelf life), and can cause clumping in bags.
Fat solidification temperature: Animal fats solidify at 35-45°C. The kibble must cool below this temperature quickly to lock fat inside.
Uniform cooling requirement: All kibble must cool at the same rate. Hot spots allow fat migration in some pellets while others are fine.
The SKLF17x17's rapid, uniform cooling locks fat inside the pellet:
| Cooling Time | Surface Oil | Pellet Integrity |
|---|---|---|
| 12 minutes | Significant | Good |
| 11 minutes | Moderate | Good |
| 10 minutes | Light | Good |
| 9 minutes | Minimal | Excellent |
| 8 minutes | None | Slight cracking |
9 minutes provides the best balance.
The key to consistent fat setting is uniform air distribution:
David checks airflow distribution weekly.
Large kibble (10-12mm) requires:
Animal fats can be corrosive over time. The SKLF17x17 includes:
| Cooling Method | Fat Location | Shelf Life |
|---|---|---|
| Slow (12+ min) | Surface | 6-8 months |
| Medium (10 min) | Mixed | 8-10 months |
| Rapid (9 min) | Inside | 12-15 months |
The SKLF17x17 dog food pellet cooler's rapid cooling doubles shelf life.
The SKLF17x17 dog food pellet cooler shipped from Qingdao to Port of Sydney (Port Botany), Australia.
Shipping time from Qingdao to Sydney is about 20-25 days. The route goes through the South China Sea, past Indonesia, and across the Coral Sea.
The machine was packed in a 40-foot container. Customs clearance in Sydney took about 3 days. Total landed cost was about 20% higher than the FOB price.
The truck transport from Sydney to New South Wales was about 50km – roughly 1 hour.
After six months of running the SKLF17x17 dog food pellet cooler in Australia, David shared several observations:
RICHI provided several services that helped David get the SKLF17x17 dog food pellet cooler operational:
For a pet food manufacturer producing high-fat, grain-free kibble, a counterflow cooler with rapid, uniform cooling is essential.
Consider the SKLF17x17 if:
Consider a larger model (SKLF20x20) if:
For David's premium pet food plant, the SKLF17x17 dog food pellet cooler was the right investment. It locked fat inside the kibble (no surface oil), doubled shelf life, and paid for itself in four months.
If you're a pet food manufacturer producing high-fat, grain-free kibble, don't compromise on cooling. Slow cooling allows fat to migrate to the surface, making kibble greasy and reducing shelf life. Customers will notice – and complain.
The SKLF17x17 dog food pellet cooler uses counterflow technology with uniform air distribution for rapid, consistent cooling. For 18% fat kibble, 9 minutes is the sweet spot – fast enough to lock fat inside, slow enough to maintain pellet integrity. The stainless steel construction resists corrosion. The result is dry, non-greasy kibble with excellent shelf life.
For premium pet food, the math is simple: rapid cooling = fat locked inside = dry kibble = happy customers = repeat business.
RICHI offers documentation in English, rapid cooling guidance, fat migration prevention advice, and remote support. Contact RICHI Machinery through the website with your kibble fat content, production rate, and cooling requirements for a recommendation. Tell them about your high-fat pet food application – they can help you select the right cooler and cooling time to lock fat inside the pellet.
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.
○ RICHI MACHINERY
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©2015-2026 by HENAN RICHI MACHINERY CO., LTD. All rights reserved.