This is a project about Rotary Dryer EFB in Colombia. Our client operates a medium-scale processing facility in the Magdalena River region, an area with significant agricultural and agro-industrial activity. They are not a palm oil miller themselves but an independent processor specializing in the valorization of agricultural by-products.
This is a project about Rotary Dryer EFB in Colombia. For entrepreneurs and agricultural processors across Latin America, the story of our client in Colombia serves as a powerful testament to how strategic equipment investment can transform waste into a valuable commodity. This article details a successful project centered on a rotary dryer EFB in Colombia. The installation of this specialized rotary drum dryer has unlocked new revenue streams for a local enterprise, capitalizing on Colombia's growing palm oil industry and its commitment to sustainable by-product utilization.
Our client operates a medium-scale processing facility in the Magdalena River region, an area with significant agricultural and agro-industrial activity. They are not a palm oil miller themselves but an independent processor specializing in the valorization of agricultural by-products. For years, they had been sourcing Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB) from several local palm oil mills. Initially, they sold this fibrous material in its raw, high-moisture state as a low-value soil amendment.
However, they recognized a much greater opportunity: processing EFB into a consistent, high-calorific fuel for Colombia's industrial sector, which is increasingly seeking alternatives to fossil fuels. Their existing operation had basic shredding equipment, but the lack of a reliable drying system was the critical barrier. This was not a replacement project; it was a strategic new purchase of a single rotary drying machine designed to be the core of a new, dedicated EFB processing line they were building from the ground up.
Name:
EFB dryer
Country:
Colombia
Date:
2025
Capacity:
8–10 tons
Model:
φ1.5*15
Raw material:
Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB)
diameter:
1.5-meter
length:
15-meter
The primary material is unequivocally Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) from Colombian oil palm plantations. The client's goal is to dry this EFB from an initial moisture content of around 55–60% down to a stable 10–15%.
This transformation is crucial for two main purposes. First, the dried EFB is milled into a fine powder to be used as a co-firing fuel in local cement kilns and brick manufacturing plants. Second, a portion is further compacted into dense biomass briquettes for commercial and institutional heating. This directly supports Colombia's national policies on renewable energy and waste reduction.
After a thorough analysis of the client's daily feedstock volume (approximately 8–10 tons of wet EFB) and their growth projections, our engineering team recommended the RICHI φ1.5*15 rotary dryer. This model offered the perfect balance of capacity and efficiency for their scale.
With a 1.5-meter diameter and 15-meter length, this industrial rotary dryer provides ample retention time for the thick, fibrous EFB material to achieve uniform drying. The unit's variable speed drive (3–12 rpm) allows operators to fine-tune the process based on the specific moisture of each batch. The high inlet temperature capability (400–500°C) ensures efficient evaporation, while the system is designed to maintain a safe exhaust temperature (70–80°C).
The installation of this rotary dryer for EFB in Colombia was the linchpin of our client's entire business model upgrade. Before, their operations were at the mercy of the weather, with sun-drying being slow, space-intensive, and prone to material degradation and mold.
The EFB rotary dryer brought in-house, year-round, and controllable processing capability. It enabled them to offer a standardized, high-quality product to energy-intensive industries with strict fuel specifications. This move has positioned them as a reliable supplier in Colombia's bioenergy supply chain.
The project also has positive environmental implications for the region, providing a constructive disposal pathway for a major agricultural waste stream and helping to reduce the open burning of EFB, a common but problematic practice.
The entire rotary dryer system, including the main drum, cyclone separator, burner, and control panel, was manufactured and pre-assembled at the RICHI facility. It was then carefully disassembled, crated, and shipped in a 40-foot HQ container from Qingdao Port, China.
The sea voyage concluded at the Port of Cartagena, Colombia's primary maritime hub on the Caribbean coast. Cartagena's well-equipped port facilities ensured a smooth customs clearance and offloading process for the client's appointed freight forwarder.
The client evaluated several options for a biomass rotary dryer before choosing RICHI. Our solution stood out for several reasons.
First, the robust construction, featuring thickened boiler-grade steel for the drum and high-temperature resistant flighting, is built to handle the abrasive nature of EFB over the long term.
Second, the thermal efficiency of our design, with optimized lifting flights and sealing systems, promised lower fuel consumption per ton of dried output.
Third, the modular and user-friendly design facilitated easier installation and future maintenance.
Ultimately, they were convinced by our comprehensive approach, which included detailed process engineering support, not just equipment sales. We provided a full thermodynamics calculation for their specific material, ensuring the selected rotary drum drying machine was neither undersized nor wasteful.
The plant manager shared this feedback:
The decision to invest in the RICHI rotary dryer EFB was pivotal for us. The transition from sporadic, weather-dependent drying to a continuous industrial process has been remarkable. Our output is now consistent in moisture and quality, which is exactly what our fuel clients demand. The dryer itself is robust; it runs steadily on our two-shift schedule.
The initial setup was straightforward with the guides provided, and the RICHI team was responsive online when we had a few commissioning questions. We are now confidently planning to increase our EFB intake. For any processor in Colombia or the region looking at EFB drying solutions, this machine from RICHI is a serious and reliable option to consider.
While this project highlights a rotary dryer for EFB in Colombia, it's important to note that this technology is highly adaptable.
The same rotary drying equipment principle is successfully used across the globe for sawdust, wood chips, bagasse, distiller's grains, poultry litter, and mineral ores.
The core advantages remain continuous high-capacity processing, excellent heat transfer efficiency, and the ability to handle materials with varying particle sizes and initial moisture levels.
Whether you need a single pass rotary dryer or a triple-pass rotary dryer for ultra-high efficiency, RICHI offers a range of models to meet different thermal processing challenges.
Choosing RICHI means more than buying a machine; it's investing in a partnership.
For projects like this rotary dryer installation in Colombia, our service encompasses pre-sales consulting, custom layout design, professional packaging, detailed installation manuals, and responsive after-sales support.
We understand that your success depends on the reliable performance of your equipment, and we are committed to ensuring your biomass drying project is a long-term success.
If you are exploring solutions for drying EFB, agricultural waste, or other biomass materials, the expertise behind this successful rotary dryer EFB in Colombia project is available to you. Contact RICHI Machinery today to discuss how our industrial rotary dryers can power your next venture.
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