0086-138 3838 9622RICHI MACHINERY is currently completing installation of a 4-ton-per-hour pet extruded feed production line in South Korea, serving the rapidly expanding companion animal market in one of Asia’s most affluent economies.
The facility is designed to produce premium dog and cat kibble using formulations based on chicken meal, rice flour, corn starch, and vegetable proteins—ingredients that meet the expectations of Korean pet owners increasingly focused on nutrition quality and ingredient transparency.
Market Demand for Premium Pet Nutrition
South Korea’s pet population has grown significantly over the past decade, with more households treating animals as family members rather than working animals or simple companions. This shift has driven demand for high-quality, locally manufactured pet food products that compete with imported premium brands.
The customer, an established player in the Korean animal feed sector, identified pet food as a natural extension of their business. They selected RICHI MACHINERY to supply a turnkey extrusion system capable of producing multiple kibble shapes and formulations while maintaining the consistency required for branded retail products.
Extrusion Technology and Process Flow
The production line includes:
- Micro-batching system for precise control of minor ingredients and additives
- Fine grinding unit achieving particle sizes appropriate for pet food digestibility
- Twin-screw extruder with configurable screw profiles for different kibble textures
- Multi-layer dryer designed for gentle moisture removal without case hardening
- Vacuum oil coating system for high-fat inclusion without oxidation
- Cooling and screening for temperature reduction and fines removal
- Automatic packaging with weight control and bag sealing
- The twin-screw extruder is the centerpiece of the system, ensuring uniform expansion, precise temperature control, and stable pellet structure across formulation changes. Screw and barrel configurations can be modified as the customer develops new products, providing flexibility for future market demands.
- Oil coating is applied under vacuum, allowing high fat inclusion—often exceeding 20 percent in premium pet foods—while maintaining kibble integrity. This process also improves palatability, a critical factor in pet food acceptance.
Installation Progress
RICHI technicians began on-site installation in November 2025. Mechanical assembly is now complete, with electrical integration and control system testing underway. The Korean installation team has worked in coordination with local contractors handling power supply and building modifications.
Commissioning is scheduled for February, followed by formulation trials and operator training. The customer plans initial production runs focused on their core retail formulas before expanding into specialty diets later in the year.
Strengthening RICHI’s Pet Feed Portfolio
This project demonstrates RICHI’s expanding capabilities in high-value pet food processing and extrusion technology. While the company has long supplied aquaculture and livestock feed lines, pet food represents a growing segment requiring tighter process control and greater attention to physical product characteristics.
