The main difference between semi-automated and fully automated floating fish feed lines
The main difference between semi-automated and fully automated floating fish feed lines is as follows: Semi-automated floating fish feed lines use manual labor for tasks that can be performed manually, purchasing only the main production machines. However, tasks such as ingredient mixing, feeding, and packaging still require manual operation. Fully automated floating fish feed lines, on the other hand, use machines to replace manual labor. Anything that can be done by machine requires no manual operation. The entire fish feed production line is PLC-linked, automatically mixing, conveying, and packaging. Only routine factory inspections require manual intervention.
Complete fish feed production line list: Crusher → Mixer → Screw Conveyor → Twin-Screw Extruder → Pneumatic Conveyor → Multi-Layer Dryer → Cooling Conveyor → Vibrating Grading Screen → Simple Oil Sprayer → Semi-Automatic Packaging Scale
01
Crusher&Horizontal Mixer
1. Crusher: Also called a pulverizer, it grinds raw materials for fish feed into powder, such as large pieces of corn, soybean meal, and fishmeal into fine powder. The finer the raw material, the better it is for fish to digest, making the extruded pellets less prone to breakage and reducing wear on the machine, thus extending its service life.
2. Horizontal Mixer: After the fish feed formula is manually weighed, it is fed into the horizontal mixer for thorough mixing. The mixer's smooth walls make cleaning easy, whether for routine maintenance or changing the fish feed formula.
02
Screw Conveyor&extruder
3. Screw Conveyor: Connects the horizontal mixer and the twin-screw extruder, it lifts and conveys the mixed powder into the extruder, simultaneously mixing and conveying, saving labor and ensuring uniform delivery.
4. Twin-screw extruder: The brain of the fish feed production line, also known as the main machine, it extrudes and expands raw materials under high temperature and pressure to produce feed that floats on the water surface. The fish feed exits the die at the extruder head and is cut into uniformly sized pellets by a cutter.
03
Pneumatic conveyor elevator&dryer
5. Pneumatic conveyor elevator: Connects the twin-screw extruder to the multi-layer continuous dryer, conveying the freshly extruded, hot, and moist pellets to the dryer via a blower and pipeline.
6. Multi-layer continuous dryer: The freshly extruded fish feed pellets have a high moisture content and need to be dried in a low-temperature oven. Reducing moisture content prevents mold growth, resulting in healthier pellets and extended shelf life.
7. Cooling conveyor: After drying in the dryer, the pellets are still quite hot. A cooling fan cools them down, hardening them for easier storage.
04
Vibrating grading screen&packaging machine
8. Vibrating grading screen: A vibrating screen removes powder and debris, separating qualified fish feed pellets.
9. Simple oil sprayer or octagonal container: Sprays fish oil, attractants, and other ingredients onto the surface of fish feed to improve palatability and encourage fish to eat it.
10. Semi-automatic packaging machine: This is the final step in the fish feed production line. The machine automatically weighs the feed, and then manual labor fills and seals it.
What equipment is included in a fully automatic floating fish feed production line, and what is its function?
Based on the semi-automatic system, the production line adds a fully automatic batching system, a complete set of linkage control cabinets, a fully automatic packaging line, and a closed and continuous conveying system.
Equipment list for the entire floating fish feed production line: Raw material feeding magnetic separation system → Batching silo + automatic batching system → Twin-shaft mixer → Forced feeder → Twin-screw extruder → Pneumatic conveyor → Multi-layer dryer → Vacuum spraying machine → Cooling conveyor → Vibrating screen → Finished product silo → Fully automatic packaging line + PLC centralized control cabinet
Fully Automatic Batching and Weighing System
1. Raw material feeding + magnetic separation: Automatic feeding removes iron blocks or iron filings from the material, removing impurities and preventing damage to the extruder. No manual handling of raw materials is required.
2. Fully Automatic Batching and Weighing System (A hallmark of fully automatic systems): The formula ratio is set in the program, and the computer automatically weighs and proportions multiple raw materials. Computerized weighing ensures more accurate data, stable formulas, and minimal error.
Mixer&Forced Feeder
3. Twin-Shaft Mixer: Ensures more uniform mixing of multiple raw materials, suitable for adding trace additives.
4. Forced Feeder: A forced feeding mechanism delivers raw materials at a uniform and stable speed into the twin-screw extruder. Stable feeding ensures consistent extrusion output, producing fish feed pellets of uniform size.
Extruder&Dryer
5. Twin-Screw Extruder: The core equipment of the entire fish feed production line. The extruder features multi-stage independent temperature control, allowing for flexible production of floating and sinking feeds.
6. Multi-Layer Dryer: Multi-layer circulating drying with precise temperature and humidity control for continuous, uninterrupted drying.
7. Vacuum Spray Coating Machine (Upgraded Version): Compared to simple spray painting, the vacuum version offers better oil absorption and is less prone to damaging high-temperature sensitive nutrients.
PLC centralized control cabinet
8. Cooling conveyor and vibrating screen: Same functions as semi-automatic, continuous operation throughout the entire line without downtime.
9. Finished product buffer silo + fully automatic packaging machine: Automatic bag feeding, weighing, and sealing; some models support automatic hemming and sewing.
10. PLC centralized control cabinet: All equipment starts and stops in tandem; temperature, speed, and feed parameters are saved on the computer for easy quality inspection and traceability.
How to choose a fish feed production line?
| Project | Semi automatic floating fish feed production line | Fully automatic floating fish feed production line |
| Production |
150kg/h -500kg/h |
500kg/h–3 tons/h |
| Suitable |
1. Large-scale aquaculture farms: These businesses typically use a large amount of feed for their own consumption. Purchasing feed would increase procurement costs, so many choose to produce their own for their own use, reselling any surplus. 2. Startups: Small-scale feed workshops often have limited budgets in their early stages, lack market knowledge, and are reluctant to make large upfront investments. 3. Manufacturers that frequently change their formulas and produce multiple types of fish feed, such as grass carp, tilapia, and ornamental fish feed, switching between them. Purchasing a production line for this type of fish feed is more suitable for these manufacturers, especially those that don't produce each type in large quantities. 4. In labor-intensive areas where local labor costs are low and space is limited, labor costs are more economical, but space is insufficient to accommodate an entire production line. 5. Manufacturers with low daily output, producing only a few tons, and not planning continuous 24/7 production. 6. Manufacturers who don't want to purchase feed all at once and plan to upgrade gradually based on market demand can install automated batching systems. |
1. Regular feed processing plants that sell fish feed in large quantities; 2. Those with stable orders, requiring continuous production for more than 8 hours a day, year-round; 3. Those where local recruitment is difficult and labor costs are high, requiring only 1-2 people to operate the entire production line. 4. High requirements for feed quality stability, necessitating standardized formulas and production records; 5. Plans to produce branded feed for distributors and major fish farms; 6. Simultaneous production of multiple aquatic feeds, requiring stable and controllable production processes. |
| Not suitable |
This type of semi-automatic fish feed production line is not suitable for manufacturers with stable daily output, such as large fish feed producers requiring more than ten tons per day and 24-hour continuous production and sales, in areas with a small labor force and relatively difficult recruitment. |
This type of fully automated production line is not suitable for customers with intermittent production, unstable orders, tight budgets, or small-batch trial production. |
What issues should be considered when purchasing a production line?
1. Determine the required capacity
Determine your daily output and production hours, then select the appropriate equipment based on that output. Don't just look at the manufacturer's stated capacity! Particle size and raw materials affect fish feed yield; floating feed takes longer to expand and dry, so actual output generally fluctuates within 20% of the equipment's stated capacity-this is normal. Leave a capacity margin.
For example, if you want a stable output of 400kg of finished product per hour, don't buy a 400kg model; choose a higher-end model.
2. The twin-screw extruder is the core equipment of the entire production line, playing a crucial role. Therefore, the material of the screw and the wear-resistant sleeve are critical, as long-term production of high-fiber, high-protein raw materials leads to rapid wear. Choose a model with multi-stage independent temperature control for easy adjustment of feed floating time. Prepare several sets of fish feed molds for easy replacement of feed with different particle sizes, such as fry feed and adult fish feed.
3. Multi-layer dryers are another common pitfall. Many manufacturers only focus on the main unit, neglecting the dryer. Insufficient drying can lead to feed mold and shortened floating time. Prioritize stainless steel mesh belt multi-layer dryers. Options include gas-fired, steam-fired, and electric heating types; choose based on local energy prices.
4. Material requirements for the production line: Use 304 stainless steel for parts in direct contact with feed; carbon steel equipment is prone to rust and feed contamination.
6. Calculate the site and supporting water and electricity costs in advance. Fully automated production lines are longer and require more space. Confirm the factory height and width; calculate the transformer power and the total power consumption of the entire production line.
7. After-sales Service and Trial Run: On-site trial run is required before placing an order, using the customer's own raw materials for on-site production; confirm the supply cycle of spare parts, on-site installation and commissioning, and personnel training; clarify the price of easily damaged parts such as screws and cutters in advance.
8. Spraying Solution Selection: For ordinary fish feed: a simple spray gun is sufficient; for high-end aquatic feed, high-oil formulas: direct vacuum spraying.
Products Parameter
|
Model |
SLG65-III |
SLG70-II |
SLG85-II |
SLG95 |
SLG120 |
|
Power |
95KW |
120KW |
140KW |
180KW |
230KW |
|
Output |
100-160kg/h |
200-260kg/h |
500-600kg/h |
1ton/h |
2ton/h |
|
Dimension |
22× 2× 4 |
24× 2× 4 |
28× 2× 5 |
32× 2× 5 |
35× 2× 5 |
FAQ
1. What production line you can supply?
A: We supply aqua feed production line with output 150kg/h to 10-12t/h. It can be a simple extrusion line starting from flour materials; Or a turnkey project from raw materials treatment.
2. What service you will supply to us?
A: Pre-sales Consultation Service: Final Products Confirmation, Process Flow Confirmation, Capacity and Model Confirmation, Production Flow Chart, Workshop Layout Design, ODM and OEM Service
In-sales service: Order Follow Up, Machinery Testing before Shipping; After-sales service: Machinery Manual, Engineers' Guide on Machinery Installation, Machinery Operator Training, Trial Running, Lifetime Troubleshooting Guide, Sustainable Spare Parts Supply.
3. Is onsite installation and training available?
A: Yes, both online and onsite available. We have a professional team for service.
4. If our factory design not ready, can you work out the layout for us?
A: Yes, we have an engineering team for workshop layout design, including steam pipelines, water drains, electrical cables, etc.
Hot Tags: fish feed floating pellet making machine, China, suppliers, manufacturers, factory, wholesale, buy, price, for sale
Products Parameter
|
Model |
SLG65-III |
SLG70-II |
SLG85-II |
SLG95 |
SLG120 |
|
Power |
95KW |
120KW |
140KW |
180KW |
230KW |
|
Output |
100-160kg/h |
200-260kg/h |
500-600kg/h |
1ton/h |
2ton/h |
|
Dimension |
22× 2× 4 |
24× 2× 4 |
28× 2× 5 |
32× 2× 5 |
35× 2× 5 |
