RICHI MACHINERY has successfully completed commissioning of a 6-ton-per-hour alfalfa pellet production line in central Spain, marking another important achievement in the company’s forage processing portfolio across Southern Europe.

The project was developed by a regional agricultural investor aiming to produce export-grade alfalfa pellets for dairy cattle, beef cattle, and equine feed markets throughout Europe and North Africa.

Spain is one of Europe’s major alfalfa-producing countries, benefiting from abundant sunlight and favorable growing conditions. Large volumes of sun-dried alfalfa are harvested annually, creating strong demand for efficient densification technologies that improve storage, transportation, and feed handling efficiency.

Project Background and Market Demand

Traditional baled alfalfa requires significant storage space and is costly to transport over long distances. Pelleting transforms loose forage into dense, uniform products with higher bulk density, enabling more economical logistics and consistent feeding.

Recognizing this opportunity, the customer partnered with RICHI MACHINERY to establish a modern pellet production facility capable of processing baled alfalfa into standardized feed pellets.

The project targets a nominal output of 6 tons per hour, with finished pellets primarily destined for export markets.

Raw Material Characteristics and Processing Strategy

Alfalfa contains high levels of protein and structural fiber but is sensitive to excessive heat and mechanical stress. Over-processing can degrade nutrients and reduce feed palatability.

RICHI engineers designed a gentle processing route that preserves nutritional integrity while ensuring pellet durability. Key considerations included:

• Controlled bale breaking to minimize fiber damage
• Low-shear grinding to maintain particle structure
• Moderate drying temperatures to prevent protein denaturation
• Optimized die compression ratios for forage materials

This approach allows consistent pellet formation without compromising feed quality.

Equipment Configuration

The production line supplied by RICHI includes:

• Automatic bale breaker and conveying system
• Hammer mill with reinforced screens
• Belt dryer with multi-zone temperature control
• MZLH series biomass pellet mill
• Counterflow cooling system
• Vibrating screen for fines separation
• Automatic bagging and palletizing section

The pellet mill is equipped with a forced feeding system to handle fibrous alfalfa material efficiently, while the dryer maintains final pellet moisture below 10%.

All key components are constructed from wear-resistant materials to support continuous operation.

Installation and Trial Production

Equipment delivery was completed in October 2025. RICHI technical engineers arrived on site shortly afterward to oversee installation, alignment, and electrical integration.

After mechanical assembly and system calibration, trial production commenced in December.

Initial test runs confirmed:

• Stable throughput at 6 T/H
• Pellet durability index exceeding 92%
• Uniform pellet size
• Minimal fines generation

Operators received hands-on training covering moisture management, die maintenance, and daily operational procedures.

Operational Benefits

Compared with baled forage, alfalfa pellets produced by the new plant offer:

• Reduced transportation costs
• Improved storage efficiency
• Easier automated feeding
• Consistent nutritional delivery

The facility now supplies pellets to regional distributors and export partners, strengthening Spain’s position in the international forage trade.

Strengthening RICHI’s Forage Processing Portfolio

This project highlights RICHI MACHINERY’s capability to deliver customized forage pellet solutions tailored to regional crop characteristics and market requirements.

With successful commissioning complete, RICHI continues to provide after-sales support and process optimization services to ensure long-term plant performance.