Mixers and conditioners for mash preparation
This is the equipment customers mention least often, and the equipment that most determines what the press will be able to do. A poorly conditioned mash gives soft pellets, higher energy consumption and faster die wear, no matter how good the press is.
Steam conditioning activates the natural binders in the raw material, so the same formulation presses more easily and with fewer fines.
The design is chosen according to how long the mash needs to be retained and at what temperature, from a few seconds alongside an expander to some ten minutes for mash-like mixtures.
In the retention conditioner an electrical flap at the outlet continuously changes the filling level and thereby the retention time, which pre-cooks the mash before extrusion according to the starch properties in the formulation.
Continuous mixers are made of stainless steel, with no dead corners and with automatic discharge, while dosing and conveying screws and impeller discharge keep the flow even.
Longer retention at a higher temperature destroys pathogenic germs and increases feed digestibility, which also shows in the quality of the pellet leaving the press.
Applications range from animal feed lines to pet food and fish feed production.