Poultry Crumble Feed Equipment in Argentina

The project was designed around a straightforward production requirement: convert cooled chicken feed pellets, typically around 3–4 mm in diameter for the selected product, into crumbles with a target size of approximately 1.5–3 mm.

These dimensions were established as preliminary product targets and would be checked during commissioning. Rather than replacing the existing feed pellet mill or purchasing a complete new poultry feed production line, the customer chose a standalone crumbler that could process selected batches while the rest of the factory continued manufacturing conventional pellet feed.

Why an Argentine Feed Manufacturer Needed a Pellet Crumbler

Argentina has a well-established agricultural base, with maize and soybeans forming important parts of its grain and oilseed economy. These crops provide a practical raw-material foundation for commercial poultry feed production. Depending on the formulation and supplier requirements, broiler feed may contain maize, soybean meal, vegetable oil, limestone, phosphate sources, salt, vitamin and mineral premixes, and other nutritional additives.

The customer in this project supplied compound poultry feed to regional distributors and independent broiler farms. Its established product range included mash feed and conventional pellets, with production schedules organized around regular farm orders. The demand for crumble feed created a different processing requirement. Younger broilers needed a smaller physical feed form, while established customers still expected their normal pellet specifications to remain available.

The existing poultry feed pellet machine could produce suitable feed pellets, but the factory lacked a dedicated machine for consistently reducing their size. Breaking pellets manually or relying on an improvised crushing arrangement would make product sizing difficult to control, particularly when several batches had to be processed in a working shift. The factory therefore needed a purpose-built poultry feed crumbler that could be incorporated into the existing process.

The customer chose to purchase one machine because the main production stages were already in place. Grinding, batching, mixing, conditioning, pelleting, and cooling did not need to be duplicated. The investment could be concentrated on the stage where the additional processing capability was required. For a manufacturer introducing a new product category, this approach can be more practical than commissioning an entirely separate feed plant.

Selected Equipment: RICHI SSLG15*150 Double-Roll Crumbler

RICHI supplied a double-roll pellet crumbler for the conventional poultry feed application. The SSLG15*150 was selected because the project required a dedicated machine for broiler crumble production rather than a specialized shrimp-feed crumbler. Its two-roll configuration provides a straightforward mechanical arrangement for reducing cooled pellets into smaller pieces.

The SSLG15*150 Pellet Crumbler Machine has a listed motor power of 7.5 kW, a roller diameter of 15 cm, and a roller length of 150 cm. These specifications correspond to the selected model. Since the supplied model data does not establish its rated throughput, the final hourly capacity must be confirmed according to the incoming pellet characteristics, required crumble distribution, and operating conditions.

Model selection should not be based on motor power alone. The customer's required production rate, available installation space, pellet hardness, and downstream screening capacity all affect the suitability of the equipment. The SSLG15*150 was selected as the proposed configuration for this project's dedicated poultry crumbling duty, with final performance to be evaluated using representative feed material.

From Conventional Chicken Pellets to Broiler Crumbles

The new poultry crumble feed equipment in Argentina was planned to receive cooled pellets after the existing cooler. Cooling before crumbling is important because freshly produced pellets leave the feed pellet machine hot and contain moisture that must be managed before the finished feed proceeds through downstream handling and storage. The cooling stage also helps prepare the pellets for the next operation under more stable conditions.

For this project, the incoming pellets were specified at approximately 3–4 mm in diameter. The target finished product was around 1.5–3 mm, depending on the order and the intended feeding stage. These figures represent the project's preliminary specifications rather than a guaranteed output from the crumbler. The final particle-size distribution would be assessed during testing.

After entering the machine, the pellets pass through the two rollers and break into smaller pieces. The purpose is not to grind the material into fine powder, but to create usable crumbles with a controlled distribution of particle sizes. This distinction matters in broiler feed production because excessive fines can create handling problems and reduce the proportion of the batch that meets the customer's finished-product requirements.

The plant can use screening after crumbling to separate acceptable material from oversized fragments and excessive fines. The exact screen arrangement depends on the factory's existing equipment and the buyer's specification. Where the process design allows, oversized particles can be returned for further size reduction. The handling of fines and any recycle stream should be decided during process planning rather than assumed to be identical for every feed mill.

For broiler starter feed, the target particle size should be determined with reference to the feeding program, bird age, feed formulation, and customer requirements. Smaller particles may be appropriate for early-stage birds, while later-stage feeds can use different physical specifications. The customer therefore needed flexibility to adjust the crumble product according to its actual orders rather than rely on a single fixed particle size for every batch.

Raw Materials and the Role of Feed Formulation

The factory's raw-material base was planned around ingredients commonly used in Argentine poultry feed formulations. Maize provides a major energy source, while soybean meal contributes protein and amino acids. Vegetable oil may be included to adjust energy density, and limestone, phosphate sources, salt, vitamin and mineral premixes, and other additives are selected according to the nutritional formula.

The crumbler does not change the nutritional composition established upstream. Its role is to alter the physical form of the finished pellet. This allows the manufacturer to use the same approved feed formulation while offering a crumble version where the customer requires one. Formula adjustments, if needed, remain a separate decision for the feed nutritionist.

Pellet quality before crumbling also affects the result. If the incoming pellets vary significantly in diameter, moisture condition, or hardness, the resulting crumble distribution may vary from batch to batch. The factory therefore planned to check representative pellets before commissioning and use trial results to establish suitable operating settings.

This approach is particularly useful for feed manufacturers working with several formulations. A maize-based broiler diet and a formula containing different levels of oil or protein ingredients may not behave identically during pelleting and crumbling. Testing the actual products helps the operator understand whether the same adjustment can be used across several feed types or whether separate operating procedures are needed.

Integrating the Crumbler into an Existing Feed Mill

The customer purchased a standalone machine, not a complete poultry feed production line. The planned installation placed the SSLG15*150 after the existing cooling stage, with suitable conveying and screening equipment arranged around it. This layout allows the factory to direct selected batches through the crumbling section while preserving its normal production route for conventional pellets.

Before installation, the plant needed to check the available floor area, inlet and discharge heights, conveyor direction, access for maintenance, and the compatibility of the crumbler with the downstream equipment. These details are easy to overlook when a purchase is described as a single-machine project, yet they can determine how smoothly the new equipment fits into daily operations.

The electrical installation also requires confirmation. The selected model has a listed motor power of 7.5 kW, but cable sizing, electrical protection, control arrangements, and emergency-stop provisions must follow the final supplied configuration and applicable site requirements. Any auxiliary conveyor or screening equipment should be included in the overall installation assessment.

The benefit of this arrangement is that the customer can expand its product range without duplicating the entire upstream process. When an order calls for crumble feed, the appropriate cooled pellets can be directed through the new machine. For standard pellet orders, the factory can continue using its existing process. The practical gains depend on production scheduling, order volume, and the time required to change between products.

Technical Advantages of the RICHI Pellet Crumbler

A double-roll crumbler offers a relatively simple structure and is designed for practical operation in conventional livestock and poultry feed processing. Its purpose is to break pellets into smaller pieces while keeping the process manageable for operators. Compared with improvised crushing methods, a dedicated machine provides a more suitable platform for adjusting and evaluating crumble production.

For the Argentine project, the important performance indicators were the proportion of material within the required size range, the amount of excessive fines, stable material feeding, and reliable operation over repeated batches. These measures provide a more meaningful assessment than considering the motor rating alone.

Routine maintenance should include inspection of roller condition, drive components, guards, feed delivery, and discharge arrangements. Wear or uneven feeding can affect product consistency, so maintenance checks should be incorporated into the factory's normal operating schedule. Keeping the machine and surrounding equipment clean also helps reduce unwanted carryover when switching between feed formulations.

The operating team should avoid assuming that one roller adjustment will work equally well for every pellet formula. Incoming pellet hardness, size, and condition influence how the material breaks. Trial runs using representative products can help establish suitable settings and identify when the operator needs to make adjustments.

RICHI's Technical Support Before and After Delivery

RICHI Machinery's support for a single-machine project can include model-selection discussions, review of the existing process arrangement, equipment interface recommendations, and installation guidance. These services are particularly relevant when a customer wants to add a new operation without disturbing the rest of a working feed mill.

Before finalizing the technical arrangement, the customer can provide the incoming pellet diameter, target crumble size, expected hourly production requirement, available floor space, and photographs or drawings of the existing line. This information allows the technical team to evaluate the application more accurately and identify any downstream equipment that may need adjustment.

Where representative feed samples are available, trial processing can help assess the resulting particle-size distribution and the proportion of fines. The results can then guide discussions about operating adjustments and screening requirements. Actual capacity should be confirmed under the agreed material conditions instead of being inferred from the installed motor power.

For an established feed manufacturer, this kind of technical coordination can reduce uncertainty during installation. The objective is to ensure that the new crumbler matches the product requirement and integrates with the existing line, rather than treating the equipment as an isolated purchase.

Shipping from Qingdao Port to Buenos Aires

The equipment shipment is planned from Qingdao Port in China to the Port of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The final freight arrangement, shipping schedule, packing configuration, and shipping documents should be confirmed with the freight forwarder based on the equipment dimensions and agreed delivery terms.

Before dispatch, the model designation, roller dimensions, motor specifications, accessories, and packing list should be checked against the order. Clear identification of the equipment and supplied components helps the receiving team carry out an arrival inspection and prepare for installation.

The importer should also confirm the applicable customs documentation and local import requirements before shipment. Electrical installation and any site-specific safety requirements should be reviewed ahead of the machine's arrival to help avoid delays during commissioning.

Project Feedback: A More Flexible Product Schedule

The main consideration for the customer was not simply adding another machine to the factory. It was making the existing production system more flexible. The manufacturer wanted to accept crumble-feed orders without interrupting its established supply of conventional poultry pellets or investing in another complete line.

During the project review, the operating team focused on whether the new section could receive cooled pellets consistently, produce a suitable proportion of saleable crumbles, and discharge the material to the downstream screening system without creating a bottleneck. These were the practical measures used to assess whether the investment addressed the original production problem.

The project also highlighted the value of selecting equipment around the actual product. The incoming pellet dimensions, desired crumble range, and downstream screening arrangement needed to be considered together. A suitable model is only one part of the solution; the complete process must be configured around the material and the factory's production schedule.

For this Argentine feed manufacturer, the SSLG15*150 was selected as a dedicated double-roll crumbler to support the additional broiler crumble product range. The machine was intended to complement existing equipment, not replace the pellet mill, cooler, or other established production stages. Its final operating performance would be assessed against the agreed product specification during commissioning.

Considering Poultry Crumble Feed Equipment in Argentina?

Feed manufacturers planning a similar upgrade should first identify the products they intend to make, the diameter and condition of their existing pellets, the target crumble-size distribution, and the required hourly output. They should also check whether their existing cooling, conveying, and screening equipment can accommodate the additional operation.

RICHI Machinery can help evaluate suitable pellet crumbler models, review the installation layout, and discuss the process interfaces needed to incorporate a standalone machine into an existing poultry feed production line. Providing clear product specifications at the quotation stage makes it easier to assess the model, supporting equipment, and commissioning requirements.

For a plant that already has functioning grinding, mixing, pelleting, and cooling equipment, adding a dedicated crumbler can be a practical way to broaden its finished-feed range. With appropriate model selection, material testing, and process coordination, poultry crumble feed equipment in Argentina can support a more flexible production schedule without requiring a complete replacement of the existing feed mill.