Compact Feed Lines: what they do, how they work, and when they’re worth it
Here’s the thing. If you run a small fish farm or a pet-feed shop, buying pellets can squeeze margins and lock you into someone else’s recipe. A compact feed line gives you control—over cost, freshness, and quality—without needing a huge building or a big crew.
What is a compact feed line?
It’s a small, modular setup that grinds, mixes, extrudes, and dries pellets. Think of it as a tight, efficient loop: ingredients go in, consistent pellets come out. You get predictable quality, low power draw, and a footprint that fits real-world spaces.
Explore: Production lines • RGT-573F
How the process actually runs
1) Grind cleanly
The grinder takes corn, wheat, rice bran, and meals down to 2–5 mm. A dust collector keeps air clear and cleanup simple.
2) Mix and hit the right moisture
In the mixer, you combine proteins, oils, and additives. A moisture sensor keeps conditioning on target, so pellets hold together and float or sink as intended.
3) Extrude and shape
The single-screw extruder cooks and shapes through quick-swap dies. Common sizes: 1.5, 3, and 6 mm. A water jacket helps stabilize temperature so you don’t chase settings all day.
4) Dry to store safely
The dryer finishes the job at 40–80 °C. Moisture drops to a safe level for storage and shipping. Designs that cut wastewater are easier on your site and your permits.
Raw materials that work well
- Grains: corn, wheat, sorghum, rice bran
- Proteins: soybean meal, fish meal, bone meal
- Oils and binders: fish oil, vegetable oils, starches, natural binders
- Additives: vitamins, minerals, probiotics as needed
- Local by-products: process to 2–5 mm before mixing
If pellets crack or dust, check moisture and die temperature first. Those two solve most headaches.
What you can make
Aquaculture feeds for tilapia, catfish, carp, and shrimp. Pet feeds for dogs, cats, and small animals. Standard die sets cover 1.5, 3, and 6 mm. If you need something special, you can order custom dies.
Why make your own feed
- Better margins: cutting purchased-feed costs by roughly a third is common.
- Freshness: you produce what you need, when you need it.
- Control: tune density and floatability to your species and water conditions.
- Speed: swap recipes in about 15 minutes with quick-change dies.
- Practical staffing: two people can run it reliably.
How to choose a model
- Throughput: what’s your target per hour and per day?
- Pellet sizes: do 1.5–6 mm cover your species and growth stages?
- Power: confirm site capacity vs total draw.
- Space: map the layout and material flow before you buy.
- Service: make sure you can get dies, bearings, and basic support fast.
Snapshot specs (RGT-573F)
| Capacity range | 40–300 kg/h |
|---|---|
| Total power | ≈ 16.5 kW |
| Pellet sizes | 1.5–6 mm (interchangeable dies) |
| Footprint | 6 × 1.2 m (L×W) |
| Operators | 2 people |
| Modules | Grinder, mixer with moisture sensor, single-screw extruder, compact dryer |
| Applications | Aquaculture and pet feed |
Specs shift with configuration. Tell us your recipe and target output and we’ll size it properly.
FAQ
Can it make poultry feed?
What should I tweak first if quality drifts?
How many people to run it?
Any space gotchas?
Note:
Share your target capacity, pellet size, and recipe. We’ll send a configuration that fits your power and space.
