0.2–0.3 T/H Waste Box Pellet Machine in Turkey

Turning Cardboard Waste into Pet Products

Turkey’s major industrial cities generate large quantities of corrugated cardboard waste from logistics companies, warehouses, retailers, and manufacturing plants. Much of this material can be recycled into paper products, but clean processing streams are not always available for every type of cardboard waste.

The Izmir-based manufacturer saw value in selected cardboard waste that had stable fiber quality. Instead of treating it only as a recycling material, the company developed a higher-value application by transforming it into paper cat litter pellets.

The company already owned basic material preparation equipment, including a shredder and mixer. The missing step was a pelletizing machine capable of compressing lightweight cellulose fibers into stable cylindrical pellets.

The purchased waste box pellet machine was therefore not intended to replace the entire production process. Its role was to provide the pressure-forming stage required to create consistent finished pellets.

Equipment Selection: Two MZLH320 Pellet Machines

After reviewing the material characteristics and expected production scale, the manufacturer selected two MZLH320 ring die pellet machines.

A smaller dual-machine configuration was more suitable than one larger unit for this project. The company was entering a new product category and wanted operational flexibility during market development.

The selected configuration provides enough output for a specialty pet litter product line while allowing the manufacturer to operate one machine during initial sales growth and add the second unit when demand increases.

Raw Material Preparation for Paper-Based Pellets

Unlike wood pellets, paper pellets require careful preparation because cardboard fibers behave differently during compression. The material needs sufficient fiber length for bonding but must also be reduced enough for stable feeding.

The main raw materials used in this project include:

• Corrugated cardboard boxes collected from logistics and retail sources.
• Clean kraft paper waste from industrial packaging operations.
• Selected office paper waste used to improve absorption characteristics.

Before entering the pellet machine, the cardboard is shredded and screened to remove unwanted materials such as plastic tape, metal clips, and excessive impurities.

The prepared paper material is adjusted to approximately 10–14% moisture before pelletizing. If the moisture level is too low, pellets become fragile and generate dust. If moisture is too high, the compressed pellets may soften after production.

Finished Product: 6 mm Paper Cat Litter Pellets

The final product from this project is a natural paper-based cat litter pellet.

The manufacturer selected a 6 mm pellet diameter because it provides a practical balance between comfort, durability, and absorption performance.

• Small enough for cats to walk comfortably on.
• Large enough to reduce excessive dust during use.
• Strong enough to survive packaging and transportation.

The pellets are lightweight compared with traditional mineral litter and are suitable for retail packaging in bags for household consumers.

Why a Ring Die Pellet Machine Was Selected

Before purchasing the equipment, the manufacturer evaluated different pelletizing options. Paper fiber creates several challenges during compression because it has lower bulk density than wood materials.

The ring die design provided several advantages for this application:

• More stable material compression for lightweight fibers.
• Better heat dissipation during continuous operation.
• More uniform pellet formation compared with simple small flat-die equipment.
• Easier adjustment when testing different paper mixtures.

The forced feeding system of the MZLH320 also helps maintain steady material flow, which is important when processing fluffy shredded cardboard materials.

Integration into the Existing Factory

The manufacturer did not need a complete new facility. The two pellet machines were installed after the existing preparation section and before packaging.

The simplified production process includes:

1. Collection and sorting of suitable cardboard waste.
2. Shredding and size reduction of paper fibers.
3. Moisture adjustment and mixing.
4. Pelletizing through the MZLH320 paper pellet making machines.
5. Cooling, screening, and packaging of finished cat litter pellets.

This approach allowed the company to enter the eco-friendly litter market without changing its entire manufacturing structure.

Operational Results After Installation

After commissioning, the manufacturer achieved more consistent pellet quality compared with manually compacted paper products.

The main improvements included:

• More stable pellet dimensions for retail packaging.
• Reduced dust generation during handling.
• Better control over product appearance and density.
• Ability to develop different paper litter formulas in the future.

The company can now produce a dedicated recycled paper litter product while continuing its existing pet product business.

Delivery and Technical Support

The MZLH320 machines were shipped from China to Turkey by sea freight and delivered to the customer’s facility in Izmir.

Technical support focused on the points most important for paper pellet production, including:

• Die selection according to final pellet size requirements.
• Adjustment of feeding speed for lightweight materials.
• Moisture control during pelletizing.
• Routine maintenance of rollers and ring dies.

Potential Applications Beyond Cat Litter

Although this project focuses on recycled paper cat litter, the same pelletizing technology can also be considered for other prepared cellulose materials.

• Recycled paper-based absorbent products.
• Agricultural fiber pellet applications.
• Specialty biomass materials requiring compact storage.

The correct application depends on material cleanliness, moisture condition, and final product requirements.

For Turkish manufacturers looking to transform suitable cardboard waste into higher-value products, a properly selected waste box pellet machine can provide a practical route from recycled material collection to commercial pellet production.