Sinking Fish Feed Production Line in the Philippines

RICHI MACHINERY

overview

This is a project about a sinking fish feed production line in the Philippines. When looking at Southeast Asia’s aquaculture boom, the Philippines stands out as a country where fish farming continues to expand year after year. With thousands of small and medium-sized aquaculture businesses scattered across its islands, the demand for consistent, high-quality fish feed is stronger than ever.

One Filipino aquaculture company recently demonstrated just how important it is to adapt and scale when they transformed a simple equipment inquiry into a fully-fledged feed processing project — and their journey with RICHI Machinery is a perfect example of forward-thinking investment in the fish farming sector.

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From a Single Machine to a Complete Solution

The story starts back on November 24, 2021. On that day, the client, a mid-sized fish farming business that also supplies feed to nearby cooperatives, sent a short but clear message to RICHI: “Please give me quotation for SZLH420.” At that time, they were only considering purchasing a single SZLH420 ring die pellet mill to supplement their growing feed requirements.

Over the next three years, through continuous discussions, technical clarifications, market updates, and several rounds of visits and feasibility studies, the client’s vision evolved. They realized that simply adding a pellet mill would not be enough to keep pace with their business goals. The local demand for high-quality sinking fish feed was rising rapidly, but so were expectations for product consistency, nutritional precision, and production efficiency.

By the time the final contract was signed on October 8, 2024, the scope of the project had grown from a single machine to an entire 5TPH sinking fish feed production line. The agreed investment, $257,050 USD, was a significant step for the client, but one they were ready to take — knowing that RICHI’s technical expertise and comprehensive solution would bring lasting returns.

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The Client’s Motivation: Better Feed for Better Fish

The client’s main operation is based in a coastal province where brackish and freshwater aquaculture is a mainstay for local livelihoods. They raise species like tilapia, milkfish (bangus), and catfish — staples of Filipino diets. Originally, they produced basic mash feeds and relied partly on local suppliers for pelleted feed.

However, as competition grew and profit margins tightened, the client realized that producing high-quality sinking pellets in-house would bring better cost control, reliable supply, and allow them to customize feed recipes for different fish growth stages.

The new 5TPH sinking fish feed production line in the Philippines will serve a dual purpose: to supply the client’s own fish farms and to sell surplus feed to neighboring fish cooperatives and smaller growers who lack the means to produce their own. This shift positions the client not only as a fish producer but also as a reliable feed supplier in the local aquaculture ecosystem.

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Raw Materials: Local, Abundant, and Well-Suited

The Philippines’ agricultural sector supports a wide range of feed inputs, which this customer uses to develop balanced fish diets. For this sinking fish feed production line in the Philippines, the main raw materials include yellow corn, rice bran, soybean meal, fish meal, and wheat flour.

In addition, locally sourced copra meal is blended in moderate quantities to supplement protein levels cost-effectively. Small but critical ingredients like fish oil, vitamin premixes, minerals, and amino acids are added in precise ratios, helping the feed meet the nutritional needs of different species and growth phases.

Sourcing locally not only supports farmers in the region but also helps the client manage logistics costs and ensure a steady supply of raw ingredients, which is vital in a country where seasonal typhoons and transport disruptions can complicate supply chains.

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A Purpose-Built Process: How the Feed Gets Made

What makes this 5TPH sinking fish feed production line in the Philippines stand out is its tailored process design. Knowing that the client would work with a blend of grain-based energy feeds and protein-rich fish meal, RICHI’s engineers crafted a custom flow that preserves nutritional value and ensures uniform pellet quality.

The line follows this logical sequence:

Feeding → Crushing → Mixing → Pelleting (with dual-layer conditioner) → Cooling → Pellet Crumbling → Screening → Packing

Here’s what happens at each step:

1. Feeding: Raw materials are weighed and pre-cleaned to remove impurities, ensuring downstream machines operate without unexpected blockages or contamination.
2. Crushing: Grains and coarse materials are ground to the right fineness, which is critical for proper mixing and pellet formation. Uniform particle size contributes to stable pellet density, which affects how the pellet sinks in water — a key factor for sinking fish feed.
3. Mixing: All raw materials, including the smallest micro-ingredients, are blended evenly. Consistency here is vital; uneven mixes can lead to poor fish growth and wasted feed.
4. Pelleting: The heart of the line is the SZLH420 ring die fish feed pellet making machine — the very machine the client asked about three years ago. This time, it’s installed with a dual-layer conditioner. This addition allows steam to penetrate the raw mix more effectively, improving pellet durability and digestibility.
5. Cooling: Fresh pellets exit the die at high temperature and moisture levels. The counterflow cooler brings these down to safe storage conditions while locking in pellet integrity.
6. Pellet Crumbling: For species or growth stages that require smaller feed, the pellets are gently crumbled to the right size without creating excessive fines.
7. Screening: A final screen separates out powder and broken pellets, ensuring only quality sinking pellets reach the bagging stage.
8. Packing: The finished feed is packed into moisture-proof bags, ready for storage, in-house use, or distribution to local buyers.

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Beyond Sinking Fish Feed: Versatile Production Options

While this sinking fish feed production line in the Philippines was designed with sinking fish feed as its main product, its adaptability means it can produce other feed types too. With recipe tweaks and minor adjustments to the pellet mill and conditioners, the client can manufacture basic poultry feed pellets, shrimp feed with a few added components, or even special grow-out feed for ornamental fish, which is a small but emerging niche in some parts of the Philippines.

This built-in versatility is more than a nice bonus — it provides the client with a safety net. If market demand shifts or new opportunities arise, they can respond quickly without needing major new investments.

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What Equipment Makes It All Work

The success of this fish feed line relies on a carefully selected set of machines. For this sinking fish feed production line in the Philippines project, the main equipment includes:

• High-efficiency hammer mills for precise raw material grinding.
• Double-shaft paddle mixers for fast, uniform blending.
• The centerpiece: the SZLH420 ring die feed pellet machine for sinking fish feed, fitted with a robust dual-layer conditioner.
• Counterflow coolers designed for tropical climates, ensuring pellets are cooled evenly without excessive energy use.
• Reliable pellet crumbler with adjustable gap rollers to produce feed for different fish sizes.
• Vibrating screeners to ensure final product quality and reduce fines.
• Packing scales and bagging machines for clean, efficient storage and dispatch.

Together, this integrated setup forms a compact, high-yield line that fits the client’s production space and can be operated by a moderate-sized workforce — no unnecessary complexity, no wasted investment.

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Strong Prospects for the Philippine Aquaculture Sector

As an archipelago nation, the Philippines depends heavily on its fishery sector for food security, livelihoods, and exports. The country’s population is young and growing, and fish remains a key source of protein for millions of families.

At the same time, feed costs often make up more than half of total production expenses in aquaculture. Producers who can supply reliable, affordable, and nutritionally balanced feed stand to gain a clear competitive advantage.

Sinking fish feed is especially important for species like milkfish and tilapia, which make up a huge portion of the country’s aquaculture output. High-quality sinking pellets reduce feed wastage, improve water quality in ponds and cages, and help farmers achieve better conversion ratios — all of which translate to stronger profits and more sustainable operations.

This new sinking fish feed production line in the Philippines fits perfectly into this trend. By investing $257,050 USD in a complete solution, they are not only meeting their own growing needs but strengthening the supply chain for dozens of smaller growers who rely on consistent feed supply but can’t afford their own pelleting equipment.

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Why This Project Matters

This story is about more than just machinery — it’s about recognizing change and seizing opportunity. From a simple request for a single pellet mill to signing a contract for a complete 5TPH sinking fish feed line nearly three years later, the client’s journey shows what’s possible when careful planning, expert support, and a clear vision come together.

For RICHI Machinery, this sinking fish feed production line in the Philippines project is another reminder that listening carefully, designing thoughtfully, and delivering reliably are the foundations of successful partnerships. By staying close to the client, adapting to their evolving needs, and offering solutions that balance practicality and ambition, RICHI helps producers of all sizes build feed systems that work for today and tomorrow.

As installation kicks off and production starts later in 2024, this new line will feed millions of fish and help one determined aquaculture company grow its influence and profits in the Philippine market.

If you’re thinking about modernizing your feed production, or adding capacity to capture new market opportunities, consider this: a well-designed feed line is more than steel and motors — it’s a competitive edge, an investment in quality, and a promise to your customers that you’re ready for whatever the future brings.

In the fast-changing world of aquaculture, that’s worth every dollar.