RICHI MACHINERY has successfully commissioned a 6-ton-per-hour layer feed production line in São Paulo state, Brazil, enhancing local egg production efficiency for one of the country’s largest poultry integrations.

Market Background

Brazil ranks among the world’s largest egg producers, with layer operations concentrated in the southeastern states where feed mills supply integrated operations and independent producers alike. Layer nutrition differs significantly from broiler formulations: calcium requirements are substantially higher for shell formation, particle size affects intake rates, and feed texture influences consumption patterns.

The customer, an established egg producer with multiple layer facilities, sought to upgrade feed production capabilities to reduce dependency on third-party suppliers and gain greater control over formulation and quality.

Raw Material and Feed Formulation

The feed formulation reflects layer requirements at different production stages:

• Corn and soybean meal provide the energy and protein base
• Wheat bran contributes fiber for digestive health
• Limestone and mineral premix deliver calcium at rates exceeding 4 percent of complete feed
• Vitamins and trace elements ensure egg quality and bird health

Pellet size and hardness are optimized for intake efficiency—layers prefer smaller pellets than broilers—while minimizing fines that birds reject, leading to nutrient waste and uneven consumption.

Line Configuration

The production line comprises:

• Automated batching and weighing with accuracy within 0.1 percent for major ingredients
• Hammer mill with screen options for different grind sizes
• Twin-shaft mixer for rapid, homogeneous blending
• SZLH series feed pellet mill with steam conditioning for starch gelatinization
• Counterflow cooler and screening units for pellet finishing
• Bagging and palletizing for finished product dispatch

The automation system manages the entire production sequence—from ingredient scaling to finished product discharge—with real-time monitoring of key parameters and recipe storage for rapid changeovers between starter, grower, and layer formulations.

Installation and Commissioning

Equipment delivery occurred in November 2025, with mechanical assembly and electrical integration completed in December. RICHI field technicians supported the customer’s installation team throughout the process, ensuring alignment and control system configuration met specifications.

Trial production in January confirmed stable output at 6 tons per hour with pellet durability exceeding 95 percent and moisture content consistently below 13 percent—performance levels meeting the customer’s quality requirements.

Benefits

The line provides high-quality feed for the customer’s layer operations, improving egg production consistency and feed efficiency compared to purchased feed. It also reduces dependency on third-party suppliers who may not prioritize layer-specific formulations or who face their own production constraints.

For RICHI, the project reinforces the company’s position in Brazilian poultry feed equipment, a market where competition is intense and performance requirements are exacting.