A feed pelletizer is a mechanical processing machine that uses pressure, heat, moisture, and a die to compact a formulated feed mixture into dense, uniform pellets suitable for animal or fish consumption.
 
Main function
 
The primary function of the pelletizer is to convert loose, powdered or meal-form feed into pellets.
The basic process is:
 
Feed ingredients → Grinding → Mixing → Conditioning → Pelletizing → Cooling → Screening → Finished pellets
 
Inside the pelletizer:
 
Feed mixture enters the machine — Ingredients such as maize, soybean meal, wheat bran, fishmeal, vitamins, minerals, etc. are first ground and mixed according to the feed formulation.
 
Conditioning — Depending on the machine, steam and/or water may be added to increase moisture and temperature, which helps the ingredients bind together.
 
Compression — Rollers force the conditioned feed through holes in a pellet die.
 
Pellet formation — The material comes out as continuous cylindrical strands and is cut into pellets by knives.
 
Pellet size is determined mainly by the die — For example, a 2 mm die generally produces approximately 2 mm-diameter pellets.