5.5T/H Tapioca Residue Pellet Machine in Thailand

From the pellet mill table, the SZLH350 (55kW) was selected. Why this model?

• Capacity: 5-6 tons/hour – matches their dried residue output
• Power: 55kW main motor – sufficient for fibrous tapioca residue
• Ring die size: 350mm diameter – 6mm die for cattle feed
• Conditioner: 4kW – essential for binding (residue has residual starch)
• Heavy-duty construction: Handles fibrous material

The factory manager chose the SZLH350 to upgrade wet residue sales to high-value dried pellets.

What He's Processing – Dried Tapioca Residue Pellets

Thailand is the world's largest tapioca starch exporter. The factory processes:

• Raw material: Wet tapioca pulp residue (from starch extraction)
• Wet residue moisture: 85-90%
• Dried residue moisture: 12-14% (after rotary drying)
• Fiber content: 15-20% (high-fiber cattle feed)
• Starch content: 10-15% (residual starch acts as binder)
• Protein content: 2-3% (low, supplement required)

Processing steps:

1. Wet residue is pressed to remove excess water (mechanical press)
2. Pressed residue (70-75% moisture) enters a rotary dryer
3. Dried residue (12-14% moisture) is hammer-milled (3-4mm particle size)
4. Milled residue is conditioned with steam (70°C)
5. Pelletized into 6mm diameter cattle feed pellets
6. Cooled and bagged or stored in silos

Pellet specifications:

• Diameter: 6mm (ideal for cattle)
• Moisture: <12% (for long storage)
• Durability (PDI): >90%
• Fiber: 15-20% (beneficial for ruminants)

End users: Dairy and beef cattle farms in Thailand, Vietnam, and China

Installation – Residue Pellet Line

The SZLH350 arrived at the Port of Bangkok (Khlong Toei Port) – Thailand's largest port.

Shipping time from Qingdao to Bangkok is about 7-10 days. The machine was packed in a 40-foot container with:

• SZLH350 pellet mill main unit (55kW motor)
• Feeder (1.5kW) and conditioner (4kW)
• Ring die (6mm for cattle feed – included)
• Spare roller shells (one set)
• Installation manual and electrical diagram in Thai

Customs clearance in Bangkok took about 3 days. Total landed cost was about 18% higher than the FOB price.

Installation took three weeks. The factory had an existing building – they poured a 200mm concrete foundation for the SZLH350. The electrical hookup required 380V, 50Hz three-phase (Thai standard). The 55kW motor required a 150-amp breaker.

The first test run was with dried tapioca residue (13% moisture, 3.5mm particle size). The conditioner added steam to reach 70°C, 16% moisture. The pellet mill ran smoothly at 5.5 tons/hour. Pellet durability (PDI) was 92% – excellent for cattle feed.

Performance – Waste to High-Value Feed

After six months of operation, the factory manager documented the following results:

Before (selling wet residue):

• Selling price: 500 THB/ton (€14/ton)
• Monthly sales (6,000 tons wet = 1,200 tons dry equivalent): 600,000 THB (€16,500)
• Shelf life: 2-3 days (local market only)

After (dried residue pellets with SZLH350):

• Pellet selling price: 6,000 THB/ton (€165/ton) – 12x increase
• Monthly sales (1,200 tons): 7,200,000 THB (€200,000)
• Additional monthly revenue: 6,600,000 THB (€183,000)
• Additional annual revenue: 79,200,000 THB (€2.2 million)
• Shelf life: 6+ months (export market accessible)

Production output:

• Capacity: 5.5 tons/hour
• Daily output (8 hours): 44 tons
• Monthly output (22 days): 970 tons
• Annual output: 11,600 tons

Cost savings:

• Reduced waste disposal: 400 tons/day wet residue no longer discarded
• Environmental benefit: Reduced landfill use

The machine cost delivered approximately 1,800,000 THB (about €50,000). Payback period was about 2-3 months based on additional revenue alone.

Customer Feedback – The Factory Manager's Experience

Here's what the factory manager said after six months (paraphrased from a conversation, translated from Thai):

"Wet residue is a headache. It spoils fast. We could only sell locally. Drying and pelleting changed everything.

The SZLH350 runs at 5.5 tons per hour. The conditioner at 70°C activates the residual starch, which acts as a natural binder. No additives needed.

Our pellets sell for 6,000 THB/ton – 12 times what we got for wet residue. And now we can export to Vietnam and China.

Would I recommend this machine? Yes. For any starch factory, turning residue into pellets is the best way to add value."

Why Tapioca Residue Works for Cattle Feed

Tapioca residue has unique properties that make it suitable for ruminant feed:

• Fiber content: 15-20% (beneficial for rumen health)
• Residual starch: 10-15% (acts as natural binder when gelatinized)
• Energy value: 2,800-3,000 kcal/kg (moderate)
• Cost advantage: Residue is a waste product – drying and pelleting cost is 1,000-1,500 THB/ton, selling price is 6,000 THB/ton.
• Shelf life: Dried pellets last 6+ months vs 2-3 days for wet residue.

The Conditioner – Activating Residual Starch

The SZLH350's 4kW conditioner adds steam before pelleting:

• Target temperature: 65-70°C (for starch gelatinization)
• Target moisture: 15-16%
• Starch gelatinization: 60-70%

The residual starch in the tapioca residue gelatinizes during conditioning, acting as a natural binder. No artificial binders needed.

Ring Die Selection – 6mm for Cattle

For dairy and beef cattle, 6mm pellets are optimal:

• 4mm: Too small – cattle eat too fast
• 6mm: Ideal for ruminants
• 8mm: Too large for some cattle

Compression ratio: 1:10 (60mm die thickness for 6mm holes)

Drying – The Critical Step

Tapioca residue must be dried before pelleting:

• Wet residue moisture: 85-90%
• After mechanical press: 70-75%
• After rotary dryer: 12-14%
• Pelleting requires: <15% moisture

The factory invested in a rotary dryer (purchased separately) costing 5,000,000 THB (€140,000).

Nutritional Value for Cattle

Dried tapioca residue pellets are used as:

• Fiber source in dairy rations (replaces rice straw or hay)
• Energy source in beef finishing rations (replaces corn)
• Supplement for cattle during dry season (when fresh forage is scarce)

Recommended inclusion rate: 20-30% of total ration.

Export Markets

The factory now exports to:

• Vietnam (via road, 500km to border)
• China (via ocean freight from Bangkok port)
• Malaysia (via road through southern Thailand)

Export price: 6,500-7,000 THB/ton FOB Bangkok.

Environmental Impact

The project has significant environmental benefits:

• 400 tons/day of wet residue diverted from landfill
• Reduced methane emissions (residue decomposes anaerobically in landfills)
• Reduced leachate contamination of groundwater
• Circular economy – waste becomes valuable feed

Shipping – Qingdao to Bangkok

The SZLH350 shipped from Qingdao to Port of Bangkok (Khlong Toei Port), Thailand.

Shipping time from Qingdao to Bangkok is about 7-10 days. The route goes through the South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.

The machine was packed in a 40-foot container. Customs clearance in Bangkok took about 3 days. Total landed cost was about 18% higher than the FOB price.

The truck transport from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima was about 250km – roughly 4 hours.

What the Factory Manager Learned – Lessons for Other Starch Factories

After six months of running the SZLH350, the factory manager shared several observations:

• Lesson 1: Dry residue to 12-14% moisture before pelleting. Wet material will clog the die.
• Lesson 2: Use 6mm die for cattle feed. 4mm is too small, 8mm is too large.
• Lesson 3: Condition at 65-70°C to activate residual starch. The starch acts as a natural binder – no additives needed.
• Lesson 4: Pellets sell for 12x the price of wet residue. The value addition is substantial.
• Lesson 5: Export markets are accessible with dried pellets. Shelf life of 6+ months enables ocean freight.

What RICHI Provided Beyond the Machine

RICHI provided several services that helped the factory manager get the SZLH350 operational:

• Thai documentation: The manual and electrical diagram were provided in Thai.
• Residue pelleting guidance: RICHI provided recommendations for tapioca residue (65-70°C conditioning, 6mm die).
• Die selection guidance: RICHI recommended 6mm for cattle feed.
• Conditioning guidance: RICHI provided temperature recommendations for residue (65-70°C).
• Spare parts kit: RICHI recommended a spare parts kit – roller shells, die, bearings.
• Remote support: When the factory manager had questions about conditioning temperature, a RICHI technician walked him through it via video call.

Is a Tapioca Residue Pellet Machine Right for Your Operation?

For a tapioca starch factory with wet residue, a pellet mill is the key to capturing value.

Consider the SZLH350 if:

• Your capacity requirement is 5-6 tons/hour of dried pellets
• You have a dryer for the residue
• You want to access export markets
• Value addition is a priority

Consider a larger model (SZLH420) if:

• Your capacity requirement is 10-12 tons/hour

For the Thai starch factory, the SZLH350 was the right investment. It turned low-value wet residue into high-value export pellets (12x price increase), created a new revenue stream, and paid for itself in three months.

Final Thoughts

If you're a tapioca starch factory with mountains of wet residue, don't sell it cheap. Dry it, pellet it, and sell it as cattle feed. Pellets have 12x the value, 6+ months shelf life, and access to export markets.

The SZLH350 tapioca residue pellet machine produces 5.5 tons per hour of durable 6mm cattle feed pellets. The conditioner activates residual starch for natural binding. The result is high-fiber, low-cost feed from what was once waste.

For starch factories, the math is simple: pelletize the residue = 12x value = export markets = circular economy.

RICHI offers documentation in Thai, residue pelleting guidance, conditioning advice, and remote support. Contact RICHI Machinery through the website with your residue volume, dryer capacity, and target markets for a recommendation. Tell them about your starch factory operation – they can help you select the right tapioca residue pellet machine to turn waste into profit.