40–2000 Kg/H Fish Feed Extruder Pellet Feed Production Line

2. Why Choose a DGP dry-type single-screw fish feed extruder machine?

The MIKIM DGP dry-type single-screw fish feed making machine is the simplest, lowest-cost way to enter extruded aquafeed production. Its advantages are practical, not theoretical:

• No boiler, no steam plant. The barrel heats from screw friction against the material. You save the capital cost of a boiler, the floor space for it, the fuel or electricity to run it, and the operator license it usually requires.
• Low energy per ton. Dry lines run near 25–60 kWh per ton of feed, compared with 50–90 kWh for wet lines (boiler included) and 60–100 kWh for twin-screw lines.
• One machine, two feeds. By changing screw speed, feed moisture, and die, a single DGP unit produces floating pellets (low density, porous) or high-density sinking pellets. You do not buy two machines to serve surface and bottom feeders.
• Easy to learn and maintain. Fewer subsystems mean fewer failure points. A semi-skilled operator can run the line after a short training, and spare screws, dies, and cutters are inexpensive and easy to stock.
• Scales with you. Because the DGP family spans 40 kg/h to 2000 kg/h, you can start on a small model and move up the same technology as your farm grows, keeping your staff trained on one machine logic.

The trade-off is that dry extrusion gives slightly lower starch gelatinization than steam-conditioned wet extrusion, which matters most for very high-fat or high-fishmeal premium diets. For tilapia, catfish, carp, and most omnivorous species, the dry DGP output is more than adequate.

If your output exceeds 2 t/h or you need premium high-fat feed for salmon or eel, our wet twin-screw 3-4 t/h line is the right step up. For a 1 t/h steam-conditioned option at lower cost than twin-screw, see the wet single-screw 1 t/h line.

3. Dry Type vs Wet Type fish feed pellet extruder machine: Which Fits You?

Buyers often ask whether they need a wet (steam-conditioned) extruder or if a dry machine is enough. The answer depends on your species, your fat level, and your budget.

Factor	Dry Type single screw floating fish feed extruder machine (DGP)	Wet-type Single-Screw floating fish feed pellet maker machine	wet-type twin-screw aquatic feed extruder
Steam boiler required	No	Yes	Yes
Energy use (kWh/ton)	25–60	50–90	60–100
Starch gelatinization	Good (friction heat)	High (steam + heat)	Highest
Floating feed reliability	Good to very good	Excellent	Excellent, full buoyancy control
High-fat / high-protein diets	Limited	Good	Best
Upfront cost	Lowest	Medium to high	Highest
Operator skill	Basic	Medium (boiler)	Higher
Best use	Small to mid farms, omnivorous fish, sinking + semi-floating	Commercial floating feed, 0.3–4 t/h	Premium, high-fat, industrial 1–4 t/h

Rule of thumb from field data: if your floating-feed need is under about 200 kg/h, a dry machine is usually the most economical. From roughly 200 kg/h up to 2 t/h, a wet single-screw gives better water stability and digestibility for a moderate cost step. Above 2 t/h or for fat levels above about 12 percent, twin-screw becomes the safer choice because it handles sticky, high-oil mashes without choking.

For most tilapia, catfish, and carp operations in the 40–2000 kg/h band, the DGP dry line delivers the best return on the smallest investment.

4. How the Dry Extrusion Process Works (Step by Step)

A DGP dry line follows the same logic as any extrusion plant, but runs with no boiler and no steam conditioner, which is exactly why its energy per ton sits at the bottom of the three types. Each station below explains what it does, why it matters to you, and the typical equipment behind it.

 

1. Raw material receiving and pre-cleaning

• What it does: incoming bags or bulk ingredients pass over a magnetic separator and a vibrating sieve to remove stones, metal, and clumps.
• What it costs you if you skip it: one stone or bolt can crack a hammer mill screen or scar the extruder screw, causing unplanned downtime that stops your whole line.
• Equipment: magnetic trap and rotary screener, typically 0.12–0.37 kW, one set.

2. Grinding (hammer mill)

• What it does: the crusher reduces all ingredients to a fine, even meal, usually 60–80 mesh for aquafeed.
• Why you should care: uniform particle size is what lets starch gelatinize fully inside the barrel. Coarse meal leaves uncooked cores, lowers water stability, and raises fines (broken pellets) at packing.
• Equipment: hammer mill, typically 7.5–15 kW depending on line size, one unit.

3. Batching and mixing

• What it does: ingredients are weighed to formula and blended in a ribbon or double-shaft mixer to a mixing uniformity of about ±1 percent.
• Why this matters to you: uneven mixing means some pellets are protein-rich and some are not. Fish eat the tasty ones and leave the rest, wasting feed and hurting growth uniformity.
• Equipment: batch scale plus mixer, typically 3–7.5 kW, one set, with screw conveyors feeding it.

4. Extrusion and puffing (the core)

• What it does: the DGP screw compresses the conditioned mash, friction-heats it past 120°C, and forces it through a die. As the hot paste exits into open air, the sudden pressure drop flashes moisture into steam, puffing the pellet.
• Why you should care: this is where floating feed is born, and on a dry line the heat comes entirely from screw friction, with no boiler and no steam cost. The trapped air gives the pellet a porous, low-density structure that floats for 12–24 hours, so you can watch fish eat and stop overfeeding. Swap the die and you change pellet diameter from 0.8 mm to 12 mm. Tighten screw speed and lower moisture and you make a dense sinking pellet instead.
• Equipment: DGP extruder with main motor, variable feeder, and cutter. See the full model table in Section 5.

5. Drying

• What it does: a multi-layer belt dryer removes surface and core moisture down to 8–10 percent.
• The payoff: wet pellets mold in the bag within days. At 8–10 percent moisture, feed stores for months without spoilage, protecting your inventory and your fish. With no boiler on the line, the dryer plus the extruder friction are your only heat loads, which keeps operating cost at the bottom of the range.
• Equipment: 3–5 layer dryer with fans and electric or gas heat, drive typically 0.75–2.2 kW plus heating load, one unit.

6. Oil spraying

• What it does: a rotating drum coats cooled-warm pellets with fish oil, lecithin, or liquid attractant.
• Why you should care: post-extrusion coating raises energy density without softening the pellet, and the attractant pulls fish to the feed faster, improving intake and growth.
• Equipment: stainless oil-spray drum, typically 0.75 kW, one set.

7. Cooling

• What it does: a counter-flow cooler brings pellets from hot to room temperature.
• Why you should care: packing hot pellets causes condensation inside the bag, which breeds mold and cracks pellets. Cooling stabilizes shape and prevents breakage in storage.
• Equipment: counter-flow cooler, typically 0.75 kW, one unit.

8. Screening

• What it does: a vibrating screener separates fines (broken pieces under 8 percent target) from whole pellets.
• Where the money is: fines sink and foul water, and they short-change the fish on nutrition. Returning fines to the mixer recovers value instead of wasting it.
• Equipment: vibrating screener, typically 0.12–0.25 kW, one set.

9. Automatic packing

• What it does: an electronic weigher fills and seals 5–50 kg bags at a steady rate.
• Why buyers ask about this: manual bagging ties up labor and drifts in weight. Automatic packing holds ±0.2 percent accuracy and frees 1–2 workers for other stations.
• Equipment: automatic weigher-packer, typically 1.5 kW, one unit.

5. Complete DGP Model Range: DGP40 to DGP200 (40–2000 kg/h)

This is the full DGP dry single-screw catalog. Every model below shares the same dry, boiler-free principle. Pick by your required hourly output:

Model	Capacity (kg/h)	Main motor (kW)	Feeder (kW)	Cutter (kW)	Screw dia.	Packing size (m)	Weight (kg)
DGP-40	40–50	5.5	0.4	0.4	Φ40	1.36×1.30×0.85	320
DGP-50	On request	On request	On request	On request	On request	On request	On request
DGP-60	120–150	15	0.4	0.4	Φ60	1.36×1.33×0.86	420
DGP-70	200–250	18.5	0.4	0.4	Φ70	1.36×1.33×0.86	550
DGP-80	300–350	22	1.5	0.55	Φ80	2.3×1.7×1.4	720
DGP-90	400–450	30	1.5	0.55	Φ90	2.3×1.8×1.4	1100
DGP-100	500	37	1.5	1.5	Φ100	2.0×2.8×1.2	1500
DGP-120	600–700	55	1.5	1.5	Φ120	2.2×2.9×1.2	1800
DGP-135	800–900	75	1.5	2.2	Φ135	2.2×3.1×1.37	2000
DGP-160	1000–1200	90	2.2	2.2	Φ160	2.3×3.15×1.38	2500
DGP-200	1800–2000	132	3	3	Φ200	2.35×3.45×1.65	3200

 

A few practical notes: the DGP-50 is shown as 'On request' in the table because its exact specs are confirmed per order, so contact the factory for that model. The DGP-100 lists a single-rated 500 kg/h because it is a fixed-speed workhorse at that output. The DGP-200 reaches 2000 kg/h on a single screw, the practical ceiling of the dry single-screw design before twin-screw takes over.

Stuck between two DGP sizes? Tell us your target output and species, and we will pick the model with the right headroom and quote the full line with lead time. Size my DGP line

6. Whole-Line Configuration & Typical Specifications

A DGP extruder is only the center of the line. The table below shows a typical full configuration matched to a mid-range DGP-120 (600–700 kg/h) unit. Powers are typical values; your quotation confirms the exact auxiliary ratings.

Table 1: Whole-line equipment list (example: DGP-120, 600–700 kg/h)

Equipment	Function	Typical power	Qty
Pre-cleaner (magnet + sieve)	Remove stones, metal, clumps	0.12–0.37 kW	1
Hammer mill	Grind to 60–80 mesh	7.5–15 kW	1
Batch weigher + mixer	Weigh and blend to ±1%	3–7.5 kW	1 set
Screw conveyors / bucket elevator	Move material between stations	0.75–2.2 kW	2–3
DGP-120 extruder	Extrude and puff	55 kW (main) + 1.5 + 1.5	1
Multi-layer dryer	Dry to 8–10% moisture	0.75–2.2 kW + heat	1
Oil spray drum	Coat with oil / attractant	0.75 kW	1
Counter-flow cooler	Cool to room temperature	0.75 kW	1
Vibrating screener	Remove fines (<8%)	0.12–0.25 kW	1
Automatic packer	Weigh and seal 5–50 kg	1.5 kW	1

Table 2: Whole-line typical indicators (example: DGP-120, 600–700 kg/h)

Indicator	Typical value
Total line power	Approx 80–95 kW
Footprint	Approx 120–180 m²
Operators	2–3 workers
Installation period	10–20 days
Final product moisture	8–10%
Fines rate after screening	< 8%

These figures come from a DGP-120 (600–700 kg/h) reference build; your quotation locks the exact layout, power, and footprint to your site. Smaller models (DGP-40 to DGP-90) fit in 30–80 m² with 1–2 operators; the DGP-200 plant needs roughly 250–350 m² and 3–4 operators.

7. Pellet Size & Feed Formulas by Species (Tilapia, Catfish, Carp)

Pellet diameter must match the fish mouth at its life stage, or feed is wasted and water fouls. Use these starting points, then adjust as fish grow:

• Tilapia: fry 0.8–1.2 mm, grower 2–4 mm, market size 4–6 mm. Protein 28–36 percent. A common formula: fish meal 10–15%, soybean meal 25–30%, maize or rice bran 20–25%, wheat flour 20%, fish oil 3%, premix 2%.
• Catfish: juvenile 1.5–2.5 mm, adult 4–6 mm. Protein 32–36 percent. Catfish tolerate more plant protein, which lowers formula cost.
• Carp: 3–5 mm for grow-out, up to 6–8 mm for large adults. Protein 28–35 percent. Carp are omnivorous and accept higher fibre levels.

Extrusion lets you push plant-protein share higher than a cold-pelleted feed can, because the heat treatment improves digestibility of soy and cereals. That flexibility is a direct cost lever: every percent of fish meal you replace with local soy or maize cuts raw material cost without hurting growth, provided you keep the protein and energy balance.

If you only need the extruder itself rather than a full line, compare options in our floating fish feed machine range.

8. Floating vs Sinking Feed on a Dry Extruder

Floating feed is the main benefit of extrusion, and a dry DGP makes it reliably. Here is the mechanism in plain terms: starch in the mash gelatinizes under barrel heat, then the paste hits the die and the pressure drops to zero. Trapped steam expands the pellet like popcorn, leaving a porous, low-density structure (below 1 g/cm³) that rides on the surface for 12–24 hours.

Why that matters to you: you can see exactly how much the fish eat. If feed floats uneaten after 20 minutes, you cut the next ration. That single habit typically removes 10–25 percent of wasted feed versus sinking pellets, where uneaten portions sink out of sight and rot on the pond floor, spiking ammonia and disease risk.

Sinking feed is made the same way but with a denser formula and minimal expansion: higher density, smaller die pressure drop, and often a touch more binder. Bottom feeders like catfish, shrimp, and eel prefer it, and a dry DGP switches between the two by adjusting screw speed, moisture, and die, no second machine required.

By contrast, traditional ring-die hard pellets (cold-compressed, no puffing) begin to break apart within 10–20 minutes in water and leach nutrients fast. That is the pain point extruded feed solves.

9. Investment, Profit per Ton & Payback Period

Equipment cost for a 40–2000 kg/h DGP dry line typically falls in the USD 8,000–80,000 band, scaling with capacity and automation. A small 100–300 kg/h starter line sits near the low end; a 600–1200 kg/h semi-automatic plant sits in the middle; the DGP-200 commercial plant approaches the top.

The real return comes from replacing purchased feed. Commercial aquafeed often costs USD 400–700 per ton depending on region and protein level. Producing it on-site from local ingredients commonly lands total cost near USD 300–500 per ton (raw materials plus power, labor, and wear parts). That gap of roughly USD 50–200 per ton is your margin.

Run that line 8 hours a day for 300 days and you make about 2,400 tons a year. At roughly USD 80 saved per ton, that is about USD 190,000 a year in avoided purchase cost, before counting quality control and freshness gains. Most operators report payback in 6 to 12 months, with the exact period set by local raw material prices, feed selling price if you resell, and how many hours per day the line actually runs.

For illustration only (not a real customer): picture a 2-hectare tilapia farm that buys 8 tons of commercial feed a month at USD 550 per ton. A DGP-120 line quoted near USD 35,000 would cut on-site cost to roughly USD 380 per ton, saving about USD 1,600 a month. Payback lands inside one season, before any freshness or disease-risk gains.

Energy is a small slice: at 25–60 kWh per ton and a typical industrial tariff, power runs a few USD per ton. Raw materials are 60–70 percent of total cost, so source them locally and the economics sharpen further.

10. How to Start a Fish Feed Production Business (Next Steps)

Starting is less complex than it looks. A 40-2000 kg/h fish feed extruder pellet feed production line is the most flexible way to enter on-site aquafeed, because the DGP family covers every step between a 40 kg/h starter and a 2000 kg/h plant. Follow this sequence:

1. Fix your daily tonnage. Multiply your pond or cage biomass by the daily feeding rate (usually 2–5 percent of body weight) to get tons per day, then divide by operating hours to get the kg/h you need.
2. Choose species and float/sink mix. This sets your die sizes and whether a dry line is enough (it is, for tilapia, catfish, and carp).
3. Pick the DGP model from the table in Section 5 that covers your kg/h with headroom.
4. Confirm utilities. DGP lines run on 3-phase power (commonly 380V/50Hz or 220V/60Hz by region). No boiler, so no extra permits there.
5. Request a layout and quote. MIKIM returns a plant drawing, equipment list with powers, lead time, and a configured price.
6. Install and train. MIKIM engineers guide installation remotely or on-site, and we train your operators on grinding, extrusion tuning, and die changes (typically a 30–45 minute swap).
7. Start with a local formula. MIKIM supplies starter recipes you adjust to local ingredient prices.

Ready to price it out? Give us your daily feed tonnage, species, and float/sink ratio, and we will return a layout and a configured quote. Get a configured quote

Browse the complete Fish Feed Production Line range from MIKIM for more aquafeed machinery options.

Authoritative references: For background on feed extrusion and processing, see the FAO manual on extruded aquafeed, the TECA small-scale extrusion technology, and the Aquatic feed manufacturing technical guide.

FAQ

Q1: Does a DGP fish feed manufacturing unit need a steam boiler?

A: No. The DGP Dry Type Single-Screw floating fish feed pellet machine generates the heat it needs through screw friction inside the barrel, so there is no boiler, no steam plant, and no boiler fuel cost. This is the main reason dry lines cost less to buy and run than wet lines.

Q2: Can one DGP machine make both floating and sinking feed?

A: Yes. By adjusting screw speed, feed moisture, and die configuration, a single DGP extruder produces low-density floating pellets or high-density sinking pellets. That lets one line serve surface feeders like tilapia and bottom feeders like catfish or shrimp.

Q3: What capacity should I choose for my farm?

A: Match the model to your required kg/h, which comes from biomass times daily feeding rate divided by operating hours. A 1–2 hectare pond often fits a 120–350 kg/h model, while a regional feed mill serving many farms may need the DGP-160 or DGP-200. Leave 20–30 percent headroom so the line is not running at its limit all day.

Q4: How much space and how many workers does the floating fish food pellet making production line need?

A: A small DGP-40 to DGP-90 line fits in 30–80 m² with 1–2 operators. A mid DGP-120 plant needs about 120–180 m² and 2–3 workers. The DGP-200 commercial plant needs roughly 250–350 m² and 3–4 operators. Figures vary with your layout and automation level.

Q5: How long until the floating fish food pellet production line pays for itself?

A: Most farms recover the equipment cost in 6 to 12 months by replacing purchased feed with on-site production. The exact period depends on local raw material prices, commercial feed prices, and daily operating hours. Send us your numbers and we will run a payback estimate for your case.