1T/H Micro Pulverizer for Feed Plant in Ghana

From the ultrafine grinder table, the SWFL90 (90kW) was selected. Why this model?

• Versatile: Handles maize, wheat, and sorghum equally well
• Consistent fineness: Classifier wheel ensures same particle size regardless of grain
• Capacity: 1.0-2.0 tons/hour – matches their 6-8 ton/day requirement
• Easy adjustment: Change classifier speed for different target fineness
• Alloy hammers: Longer life with harder grains like sorghum

Kwame chose the SWFL90 micro pulverizer because their hammer mill couldn't produce consistent results across different grains.

What He's Processing – Ghanaian Grains

Ghana grows several grains for animal feed. Kwame's cooperative processes:

• Maize (local – Ashanti Region grows maize): 50-60% of volume – easiest to grind
• Wheat (imported or from northern Ghana): 20-25% – medium hardness
• Sorghum (local – drought-resistant): 15-20% – hardest grain, most abrasive
• Soybean meal (imported): 5-10% – protein supplement
• Fish meal (imported): 3-5% – protein for poultry

The challenge is that each grain has different hardness:

• Maize: 2-3 Mohs hardness – grinds easily
• Wheat: 3-4 Mohs – medium
• Sorghum: 5-6 Mohs – very hard, abrasive

The SWFL90 micro pulverizer's classifier wheel and alloy hammers handle all three.

Installation – Serving Member Farms

The SWFL90 arrived at the Port of Tema – Ghana's largest port, located near Accra.

Shipping time from Qingdao to Tema is about 25-30 days. The machine was packed in a 20-foot container with:

• SWFL90 grinder main unit (90kW motor)
• Classifier wheel assembly (7.5kW)
• Feeder (1.5kW)
• Spare hammers and screens (alloy-protected for sorghum)
• Cyclone and airlock discharge
• Installation manual and electrical diagram in English

Customs clearance in Tema took about 8 days. Total landed cost was about 28% higher than the FOB price.

Installation took two weeks. Kwame's team prepared a concrete foundation – the SWFL90 weighs about 4.5 tons. They poured a 200mm reinforced slab.

The electrical hookup required 380V, 50Hz three-phase (Ghanaian standard). The 90kW motor required a 200-amp breaker.

The air system required ducting to a dust collector. Kwame installed a baghouse filter (purchased locally).

The first test run was with maize (target 350 microns for poultry feed). Classifier wheel at 2,400 RPM. Sieve test: 340 microns average. Good.

Second test with sorghum (same target 350 microns). Classifier wheel at 2,500 RPM (slightly higher because sorghum is harder). Sieve test: 360 microns average. Excellent.

Third test with wheat: 2,450 RPM, 350 microns. Consistent across all three grains.

Performance – Consistent Feed, Happy Farmers

After six months of operation, Kwame documented the following results:

Before (hammer mill only):

• Maize: 300-350 microns (acceptable)
• Wheat: 350-450 microns (inconsistent)
• Sorghum: 450-600 microns (too coarse)
• Feed quality: Inconsistent – farmers complained
• Customer complaints: 3-4 per month

After (SWFL90 ultrafine grinder):

• Maize: 340 microns (consistent)
• Wheat: 350 microns (consistent)
• Sorghum: 360 microns (consistent)
• Feed quality: Uniform across all batches
• Customer complaints: Zero in six months

Production output:

• Rated capacity: 1.0-2.0 tons/hour
• Actual output (maize): 1.6 tons/hour
• Actual output (wheat): 1.5 tons/hour
• Actual output (sorghum): 1.3 tons/hour (slower due to hardness)
• Daily output (8 hours): 10-12 tons – meets cooperative's needs

Quality improvements:

• Feed uniformity: Consistent from batch to batch
• Poultry growth: Farmers reported better growth rates
• Piglet health: Reduced digestive issues (finer grind)
• Member satisfaction: All 200 farmers renewed membership

Customer Feedback – Kwame's Experience

Here's what Kwame said after six months (paraphrased from a conversation, translated from Twi):

"Our hammer mill worked fine for maize. But when we ran sorghum – which our farmers grow because it survives drought – the feed was too coarse. The chickens didn't eat it well. The piglets had digestive problems.

The SWFL90 changed that. The classifier wheel gives us consistent results for all three grains. Maize at 2,400 RPM. Wheat at 2,450 RPM. Sorghum at 2,500 RPM. Same fineness every time.

The classifier wheel is the key. We just change the speed for different grains. No need to change screens or hammers.

A few operational notes: Sorghum wears hammers faster. Our alloy hammers last 600-700 hours with sorghum, 800-900 with maize. We keep spares. The pre-screen is 2.0mm for all grains – we don't change it. The air balance needs adjustment when changing grains – we have a chart on the wall.

Would I recommend this machine? Yes. For any cooperative that processes multiple grains, the SWFL90 offers the consistency that farmers need."

Why Consistent Grinding Matters for Cooperatives

A feed cooperative serves many farmers with different needs. Here's why consistent grinding is critical:

• Poultry feed: Chickens need consistent particle size for uniform digestibility. Inconsistent feed leads to uneven growth.
• Piglet feed: Young pigs need fine particles (200-300 microns). Coarse particles cause digestive issues.
• Ingredient flexibility: Cooperatives buy whatever grain is available and affordable. The grinder must handle all of them.
• Trust: Farmers trust the cooperative to deliver consistent quality. Inconsistent feed breaks that trust.

Kwame's cooperative now processes maize, wheat, and sorghum to the same fineness every time.

The Classifier Wheel – Key to Grain Versatility

The SWFL90's classifier wheel allows Kwame to adjust for different grain hardness. Here are his settings:

• Maize (softest): Classifier speed: 2,400 RPM, Air volume: 3,500 m³/h, Output: 1.6 tons/hour
• Wheat (medium): Classifier speed: 2,450 RPM, Air volume: 3,600 m³/h, Output: 1.5 tons/hour
• Sorghum (hardest): Classifier speed: 2,500 RPM, Air volume: 3,700 m³/h, Output: 1.3 tons/hour

Changeover procedure between grains:

1. Stop grinder (5 minutes)
2. Adjust classifier speed on VFD (2 minutes)
3. Adjust air damper (3 minutes)
4. Run 50kg test, check particle size (10 minutes)
5. Resume production

Total changeover time: 15-20 minutes.

Alloy Hammers – Essential for Sorghum

Sorghum is the hardest grain the cooperative processes. It's also abrasive. Standard hammers would wear quickly.

Kwame's hammer life:

• Maize (standard hammers): 800-1,000 hours
• Sorghum (standard hammers): 400-500 hours
• Sorghum (alloy-protected hammers): 600-700 hours

The alloy protection extends life by 40-50%. Kwame bought a spare set of alloy hammers with the machine.

Training Operators – Simple Charts

Kwame's operators are local farmers with limited technical training. He created simple charts for each grain:

MAIZE:

• Classifier speed: 2,400
• Air damper: position 3
• Check particle size every 2 hours

WHEAT:

• Classifier speed: 2,450
• Air damper: position 4
• Check particle size every 2 hours

SORGHUM:

• Classifier speed: 2,500
• Air damper: position 5
• Check particle size every 1 hour (harder grain, more variation)

The charts are laminated and taped to the machine. Operators follow them without confusion.

Shipping – Qingdao to Tema

The SWFL90 micro pulverizer shipped from Qingdao to Port of Tema, Ghana – the country's largest port.

Shipping time from Qingdao to Tema is about 25-30 days. The route goes through the South China Sea, past Singapore, across the Indian Ocean, around the Cape of Good Hope, and up the Atlantic coast of Africa.

The machine was packed in a 20-foot container. Customs clearance in Tema took about 8 days. Total landed cost was about 28% higher than the FOB price.

The truck transport from Tema to Kumasi was about 250km – roughly 4-5 hours.

What Kwame Learned – Lessons for Other Cooperatives

After six months of running the SWFL90, Kwame shared several observations:

Lesson 1: One machine can handle multiple grains. You don't need separate grinders for different grains. The classifier wheel gives you flexibility.

Lesson 2: Document settings for each grain. Kwame's laminated charts prevent operator confusion. Maize = 2,400 RPM. Wheat = 2,450 RPM. Sorghum = 2,500 RPM.

Lesson 3: Sorghum wears hammers faster. Plan for 600-700 hour hammer life with sorghum. Keep spares. Use alloy hammers.

Lesson 4: Test particle size when switching grains. Kwame runs 50kg of test material after each changeover. Takes 10 minutes. Prevents production of out-of-spec feed.

Lesson 5: Train operators simply. Kwame's operators don't need to understand the science. They just need to follow the chart.

What RICHI Provided Beyond the Machine

RICHI provided several services that helped Kwame get the SWFL90 micro pulverizer operational:

• English documentation: The manual and electrical diagram were in English.
• Classifier speed guidance: RICHI provided recommendations for different grains.
• Alloy hammer recommendation: Based on the sorghum, RICHI recommended upgraded alloy hammers.
• Spare parts kit: RICHI recommended a spare parts kit based on Kwame's volume – including hammers, screens, and classifier blades.
• Remote support: When Kwame had questions about air balance for sorghum, a RICHI technician walked him through it via video call. Total time: 30 minutes.

Is a Micro Pulverizer for Feed Plant Right for Your Operation?

For a feed cooperative or small feed mill that processes multiple grains, the SWFL90 micro pulverizer offers the consistency needed.

Consider the SWFL90 micro pulverizer if:

• You process multiple grain types (maize, wheat, sorghum, etc.)
• You need consistent particle size across different grains
• Your capacity requirement is 1-2 tons/hour
• You want one machine instead of multiple dedicated grinders

Consider a larger model (SWFL110 or SWFL130) if:

• Your capacity requirement is 2-4 tons/hour

For Kwame's cooperative, the SWFL90 micro pulverizer for feed plant was the right investment. It allowed them to process maize, wheat, and sorghum to the same fineness, eliminated farmer complaints, and paid for itself in 14 months.

Final Thoughts

If you're a feed cooperative or small feed mill processing multiple grains, don't settle for inconsistent results. Different grains have different hardness. Your grinder should compensate for that.

The SWFL90 micro pulverizer for feed plant handles maize, wheat, and sorghum equally well. The classifier wheel adjusts for grain hardness. The alloy hammers last longer with abrasive grains. The result is consistent feed quality that farmers trust.

For cooperative feed mills, the math is simple: consistent feed = happy farmers = renewed memberships = sustainable business.

RICHI offers documentation in English, alloy hammers, classifier speed guidance, and remote support. Contact RICHI Machinery through the website with your grain types, target fineness, and capacity for a recommendation. Tell them about your cooperative operation – they can help you select the right grinder and classifier settings for each grain you process.