1-1.4T/H Shrimp Feed Pellet Mill in Tanzania

Pioneering Aquafeed Producers in East Africa

The client is a newly formed company, "Tanga Aqua-Nutrition Ltd.," established specifically to address the feed security issue in Tanzanian aquaculture. Their business model is built on import substitution and technical partnership with local shrimp farmers.

They are not a backyard operation but a serious industrial venture. The purchase of this single aquafeed pellet mill represented their largest capital equipment investment. They required a machine robust enough for commercial production, yet versatile enough to allow for recipe experimentation and adaptation.

Crucially, it needed to produce pellets with the high density and durability required for shrimp, a specification beyond the capability of standard poultry pellet mills. Buying one machine first was a prudent step to manage risk and cash flow while proving their concept.

Raw Material Strategy & Machine Specifications for a New Market

The raw material palette is designed to leverage both local availability and necessary imports:

• Local Ingredients: Cassava meal as a primary carbohydrate source, sunflower seed meal for protein, and locally sourced fishmeal from Lake Victoria sardines.
• Imported Supplements: High-quality soybean meal, specialized shrimp meal, vitamin and mineral premixes, and binding agents to ensure pellet stability.

The feed is formulated specifically for the grow-out phase of Penaeus monodon in brackish water ponds. Given the nascent stage of the industry and projected demand, a medium-capacity machine was the logical choice.

After careful analysis of growth projections and pond stocking plans across their target region, the RICHI SZLH350 Shrimp Feed Pellet Mill was selected. The consortium decided to purchase two units from the outset to ensure production continuity and meet their launch targets.

• Model: SZLH350 (Two Units)
• Main Motor Power: 55 kW per unit – Provides ample, stable power for the dense shrimp feed formulation.
• Conditioner Configuration: A critical choice. They selected the Three-Layer Single-Shaft Conditioner (4kW). This advanced conditioner allows for precise, multi-stage addition of steam and liquid ingredients (like fish oil and molasses). The extended retention time (over 90 seconds) ensures thorough starch gelatinization and protein denaturation, which is absolutely essential for producing a highly water-stable pellet that minimizes nutrient leaching in ponds—a key selling point against imported feeds.
• Ring Die Internal Diameter: 350mm – An optimal size for their production scale, allowing for efficient pelleting of their recipe.
• Target Pellet Diameter: The primary product is a 2.0mm sinking shrimp pellet for the juvenile-to-grow-out stages. The mill is also capable of producing a 1.5mm pellet for smaller shrimp if market demand arises.
• Combined Output: Each mill is rated for 1-1.4 tonnes per hour. With two mills, they have a designed plant capacity of 2-2.8 tonnes per hour, enabling them to produce over 20 tonnes per day on a single shift, which is sufficient to supply dozens of medium-sized farms in their launch phase.

The Pellet Mill's Role: The Engine of a New Industry

These two shrimp feed pellet machines are the undisputed heart of the Tanga Aqua-Nutrition plant. Their performance dictates the commercial viability of the entire enterprise.

1. Enabling Localized Feed Production: The mills transform a blend of powdered ingredients into a durable, nutritionally complete sinking shrimp feed pellet. This single act breaks Tanzania's dependence on imported feed, creating a new manufacturing sector.
2. Producing a Superior, Water-Stable Product: The advanced three-layer conditioning, followed by the high-pressure extrusion through the hardened steel ring die, creates a dense, highly water-stable pellet. This is critical for shrimp, which are slow, bottom feeders. A pellet that disintegrates quickly wastes feed and pollutes the pond. The stability of pellets from the SZLH350 is a core competitive advantage they communicate to farmers.
3. Providing Formulation Flexibility: The robust design and precise conditioning allow the nutritionists to experiment with the ratios of local cassava and sunflower meal, optimizing cost and performance for Tanzanian conditions—something impossible with a fixed imported formula.
4. Ensuring Business Continuity: Purchasing two identical mills provides redundancy. If one unit requires maintenance, the other can continue to run at reduced capacity, ensuring they never completely fail to supply their committed customers—a crucial aspect of building trust in a new market.

The final pelletized shrimp feed is packaged in 20kg laminated bags with clear Swahili and English instructions, marketed under the brand "Kua Samaki" ("Grow Fish" in Swahili).

Shipping to the Swahili Coast

The two feed pellet machines, along with their auxiliary feeders and conditioners, were manufactured, pre-assembled, and tested in pairs. They were then disassembled and packed into two dedicated 40-foot high-cube containers with custom securing frames. The shipment departed from Qingdao Port.

The most direct and efficient sea route for Tanzania's coast was to Port of Dar es Salaam, the largest and busiest port in the country. The containers were cleared at Dar es Salaam and transported by road north to the purpose-built facility in Tanga.

Technical Superiority: Why the RICHI SZLH350 with Triple Conditioning?

In a competitive tender, the RICHI solution was chosen based on its targeted design for aquatic feed and its superior conditioning technology.

• Engineered for Density and Durability: Unlike general-purpose pellet mills, the SZLH series is designed with the specific torque, pressure, and die specifications needed to compress the high-protein, high-fat formulations typical of shrimp feed into a hard, durable pellet. This results in a lower fines generation rate after packaging and transport.
• The Three-Layer Conditioner – A Game Changer for Quality: The client's technical team was adamant that pellet quality was their primary differentiator. The triple-stage single-shaft conditioner provides unparalleled control over the cooking process. Steam and liquids can be added at different stages, maximizing ingredient hydration and binding. This process is widely recognized as industry-best practice for producing superior aquafeed, directly impacting feed conversion ratios (FCR) on the farm.
• Robustness for a Challenging Environment: The mills are built with heavy-duty gearboxes, high-grade bearings, and reinforced frames. This durability is essential for a startup in a region where specialist technical support is not instantly available, promising long-term reliability and lower total cost of ownership.
• Scalability and Operational Simplicity: The SZLH350 shrimp feed pellet mill in Tanzania offers a perfect entry point for commercial production. The controls are intuitive for trained operators, and having two identical units simplifies spare parts inventory and operator training.

The RICHI Partnership: Building a Plant from the Ground Up

Our role extended far beyond that of a standard equipment supplier. We acted as a technical partner in establishing a new industry.

• Complete Plant Layout Advisory: Our engineering team provided detailed consultancy on the entire plant layout, including raw material intake, grinding, mixing, pelleting, cooling, crumbling (for future nursery feed), and bagging, ensuring an efficient workflow centered on the two pellet mills.
• Comprehensive On-Site Commissioning and Training: A team of three RICHI engineers spent three weeks on-site. They supervised the installation of both mills, calibrated the advanced conditioners, and conducted exhaustive production trials with the client's actual recipe. They then led a rigorous training program for all production staff, from the shift supervisors to the maintenance engineers.
• Long-Term Technical Support Agreement: We established a remote monitoring and support protocol, with scheduled video check-ins and a guaranteed response time for technical queries. A comprehensive set of critical spare parts, including ring dies, rollers, and conditioner shafts, was supplied as part of the initial package.

Voices from the New Plant: Client Testimonial

After six months of successful operation and the establishment of a solid customer base, the Plant Manager and the Head of Nutrition provided a joint statement:

"Launching Tanzania's first shrimp feed plant was a monumental task, and the selection of the core pelleting equipment was our most critical decision. The installation and commissioning of the two RICHI pellet mills were highly professional.

The triple-layer conditioner has been instrumental in achieving the pellet stability we needed; our water stability tests consistently outperform the imported feed we benchmarked against. The farmers are responding very well to the 'Kua Samaki' feed. They report good consumption, consistent growth, and appreciate the reliable local supply.

From an operational perspective, the two mills run smoothly. We've begun routine die changes as planned, and the process is straightforward. Having two machines gives us immense operational confidence.

These shrimp feed pellet mills are not just machines for us; they are the foundation upon which we are building a new industry here in Tanzania. RICHI provided not only excellent equipment but also the partnership we needed to succeed."

Conclusion: Seeding Sustainable Aquaculture Growth in Tanzania

This project in Tanga, Tanzania, stands as a testament to how strategic investment in appropriate, high-quality industrial technology can serve as the catalyst for entire new sectors of a national economy.

The two RICHI SZLH350 Shrimp Feed Pellet Mills are more than production assets; they are instruments of economic development, enabling import substitution, creating skilled jobs, and empowering local shrimp farmers.

It underscores RICHI Machinery's unique position as a provider of not just machines, but of turnkey solutions and long-term partnerships for pioneers in emerging markets worldwide.

Are you planning to establish or upgrade an aquafeed production line for shrimp, marine fish, or other aquatic species? The heart of your operation is a reliable, high-performance pellet mill capable of producing water-stable, nutritious feed.

RICHI Machinery specializes in advanced shrimp feed pellet mills, aquafeed pelletizers, and sinking feed pellet presses equipped with state-of-the-art conditioning systems. If your vision is to produce superior feed and build a sustainable business, contact RICHI Machinery today.

Let's discuss how our proven pelleting technology and comprehensive support can form the solid foundation of your success, just as we partnered with the visionary team at Tanga Aqua-Nutrition to bring a new era of self-reliance to Tanzania's aquaculture sector.