5–6 T/H Poultry Feed Pelleting Machine with Automated System in Vietnam

RICHI Machinery recommended the SZLH350 ring die feed pellet mill with a 55 kW main motor and an automation package configured for the plant's operating requirements. With a nominal capacity of 5–6 tons per hour, the machine was intended to supplement the existing pelleting section and provide more consistent control over the production of starter, grower, finisher and layer feed.

Equipment Configuration and Automation Functions

The project combined a conventional ring die pellet mill with electronic monitoring and control functions. The mechanical equipment performs the actual compression and pellet formation, while the automation package helps operators manage feeding, conditioning and operating conditions from a centralized interface.

The control system was designed to help maintain stable operating conditions as the plant changed between formulas. The PLC stores production recipes, displays operating information and allows authorized operators to monitor relevant process variables. Where the necessary sensors, actuators and control logic are installed, it can also adjust feeder speed and regulate steam supply in response to operating conditions.

The package was configured with storage for up to 20 feed recipes. Each recipe could contain defined operating targets for a particular product, reducing the need for operators to enter every parameter manually when switching between established formulations.

• Touchscreen monitoring gives operators a centralized view of machine status and process settings.
• Variable-frequency feeder control allows the feed supply to be adjusted according to the mill's operating load.
• Conditioner temperature feedback helps maintain the selected conditioning target.
• Motor-current monitoring supports feed-rate adjustments when the load changes.
• Vibration monitoring can provide early warnings of abnormal mechanical behavior when suitable thresholds are configured.
• Network connectivity supports remote monitoring when the plant's communication infrastructure and access controls permit it.

Automation does not eliminate the need for operator supervision. Ring die replacement, roller inspection, cleaning and mechanical maintenance still require trained personnel. The purpose of the system is to reduce routine manual intervention, improve process visibility and help operators respond to abnormal conditions before they interrupt production.

Process Settings for Four Poultry Feed Products

The factory required different pellet sizes for broiler starter, grower and finisher feed, as well as layer feed. RICHI supplied the pellet mill with four ring die options to accommodate these products. The following table summarizes the plant's initial operating targets.

These settings provide a starting point for production trials rather than universal operating rules. Actual throughput and pellet durability depend on the ingredient composition, mash moisture, steam quality, die condition and required finished-feed specifications. The grower and finisher recipes also need to be validated independently rather than relying on a single set of parameters for all products.

The automation package allows the operator to select the relevant recipe and monitor the resulting process conditions. Temperature and motor-load targets must be tuned against actual production data to avoid excessive feeding, inadequate conditioning or unnecessary reductions in throughput.

Feed Formulations and Ingredient Variability

The plant uses maize, soybean meal, rice bran, fishmeal, vegetable oil and other ingredients to manufacture poultry feed. Maize provides a major energy source, while soybean meal contributes protein. Rice bran and fishmeal contribute additional nutrients, and the premix supplies specified vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients.

Two representative formulations used in the production program are shown below. They illustrate the range of products the pelleting equipment must accommodate; final nutrient specifications should be established by the manufacturer's nutrition team.

Broiler starter feed

Layer feed

Changes in raw-material quality can affect moisture absorption, mash flow, conditioning and pellet durability. The plant therefore needs to validate recipe settings when ingredient characteristics change. A stored recipe provides a repeatable starting point, but it should not prevent operators from making controlled adjustments when testing shows that a formulation requires them.

How the Automated Pellet Mill Works with Existing Equipment

The SZLH350 was added to a factory that already had animal feed hammer mills, twin-shaft paddle mixers with an 8,000 kg batch capacity, pellet coolers and bulk load-out equipment. The project focused on the pelleting stage and its control functions rather than replacing the entire feed manufacturing system.

1. Grinding and batching — Existing hammer mills prepare the maize and other ingredients, while the mixing system produces a uniform mash according to the selected formula.
2. Feed transfer — The prepared mash is conveyed to the pellet mill's feeding and conditioning section at a controlled rate.
3. Conditioning — Steam and heat prepare the mash for compression. Temperature feedback helps the control system maintain the selected operating target.
4. Pellet formation — The SZLH350 poultry feed pellet machine compresses the conditioned mash through the selected ring die to form pellets of the specified diameter.
5. Cooling and handling — Finished pellets move into the existing cooling and bulk handling system, provided that the downstream equipment can accommodate the actual combined flow.

The factory's annual output of approximately 300,000 tons applies to its overall manufacturing operations, not to the new pellet mill alone. At a nominal rate of 5–6 T/H, the SZLH350 serves as one production unit within a much larger facility. Coordinating feeder control, material distribution and cooler capacity is therefore essential to achieving useful additional output.

Operational Benefits Reported by the Plant

After commissioning, the plant reported improvements in process consistency and reduced reliance on continuous manual adjustments. The most important changes concerned how operators monitored the machine and responded to changing production conditions.

• Reduced routine monitoring: Operators could review process variables through the touchscreen interface instead of relying exclusively on manual checks.
• More consistent operating conditions: Recipe-based settings and temperature feedback helped the team repeat established production procedures.
• Improved load management: Feeder-speed adjustments based on motor current helped control material supply when operating conditions changed.
• Earlier maintenance warnings: Vibration monitoring provided an additional means of identifying abnormal bearing behavior.
• More organized product changeovers: Stored recipes reduced the need to re-enter operating targets when switching between familiar feed products.

The plant also reported an approximately 8% reduction in electricity use per ton after optimizing motor loading. This figure should be treated as a site-specific result rather than a guaranteed saving, since energy consumption depends on production rate, formulation, conditioning requirements, motor loading and the measurement method used.

The control system can shorten the preparation required for a recipe change, but changing a physical ring die remains a mechanical task. Die changes must still follow the manufacturer's isolation, handling and inspection procedures.

Customer Feedback After Installation

"The automated pellet mill has given our operators much better visibility of the production process. We can monitor machine conditions through the network connection, and automatic feeder adjustment has helped us manage changes in motor load more consistently.

The vibration sensors needed calibration during the initial operating period. RICHI's automation engineer worked with our team to establish suitable thresholds, and the monitoring system has become a useful part of our maintenance routine. We have decided to order additional SZLH350 machines with automation for our other facilities."

The plant operates the pellet mill on a regular multi-shift production schedule. Its experience highlights the importance of commissioning the control system with actual feed formulations and training operators to distinguish normal process variation from conditions requiring intervention.

Shipping, Installation and Control-System Commissioning

The SZLH350 feed pellet machine was shipped from Qingdao, China, to Cat Lai Port in Ho Chi Minh City, followed by road transport to Dong Nai Province. The reported ocean transit was approximately 12 days, with total transit taking about 18 days. Actual schedules depend on vessel availability, customs clearance and inland transport arrangements.

Before installation, the factory needed to prepare the machine foundation, electrical connections, material-transfer interfaces and control-system connections. The existing feed mill's electrical and automation infrastructure also had to be reviewed to ensure that the new equipment could operate safely alongside the other production units.

RICHI's project support covered several areas:

• Review of the existing control system and proposed integration points.
• PLC configuration and preparation of product recipe settings.
• Guidance on Ethernet connectivity and authorized remote monitoring.
• Vibration-sensor calibration and establishment of appropriate alarm thresholds.
• Adjustment of conditioner temperature-control settings during commissioning.
• Operator guidance on routine inspections, safe operation and maintenance procedures.

Remote access should be configured according to the factory's IT security requirements, with appropriate permissions and network controls. Monitoring availability depends on the local network and the final system configuration.

Expanding Automated Feed Production in Vietnam

Following the project, the manufacturer ordered two additional SZLH350 pellet mills with the same automation package for other facilities and began evaluating a larger SZLH420 model for a future production line.

The project demonstrates how a poultry feed pelleting machine with automated system can upgrade a specific stage of an established feed mill. The SZLH350 combines a 55 kW ring die pellet mill with configurable process monitoring and control functions, helping the manufacturer manage different poultry feed products without replacing its entire manufacturing infrastructure.

For feed producers in Vietnam considering a similar investment, the main selection criteria include required throughput, pellet diameters, formulation variability, available steam supply, electrical infrastructure and compatibility with existing cooling and conveying equipment. Automation should be specified around the actual production process rather than treated as a standard package with identical functions for every plant.

RICHI Machinery supplies ring die pellet mills, feed processing equipment and configurable automation solutions for commercial feed manufacturers. Contact our technical team to discuss your production capacity, existing equipment and control requirements for a poultry feed pelleting system in Vietnam.