With over 100 years of history, Zheng Chang is a leading manufacturer of equipment for animal feed production, with aquafeed being its most significant segment. The company operates 20 subsidiaries in China and an additional 30 subsidiaries worldwide.
Zheng Chang offers comprehensive feed production lines, featuring single- and twin-screw extruders, pelletizers, and vacuum coating systems. The company has built full aquafeed plants in China and across Asia, as well as an extrusion line in Ecuador. It now aims to enter the Brazilian aquafeed market, specifically with extrusion lines for tilapia feed.
Zheng Chang entered the Brazilian market in 2015 and established its first office in Curitiba. The company acquired the assets of Equipar, the Calibras brand, well-known in the country, with a 37,000 m2 industrial plant in Campinas, establishing its local subsidiary, Zheng Chang do Brasil.
“Zheng Chang is a market leader in China. In Brazil, we are already recognized by main livestock players,” said Daniel Ni (Ni Yajun), general director at Zheng Chang do Brasil, to Aquafeed.com during VICTAM LatAm. The company currently has several machines in operation and three more under construction for livestock species, and it plans to replicate this success in the aquafeed industry.
“Most Brazilian aquafeed manufacturers are not yet familiar with our company, equipment, or capabilities. Our main goal now is to increase awareness of Zheng Chang and establish an extrusion line for tilapia in Brazil,” Ni said. “We already have several projects in progress in the state of Paraná, Brazil’s largest tilapia-producing region.”
The local subsidiary enables partial manufacturing in Brazil, except for extruders and pelletizers, and ensures that all equipment complies with Brazilian safety standards and carries the necessary technical certification. Zheng Chang do Brasil also maintains a local spare parts inventory, eliminating the need to import parts from China and reducing downtime.
Zheng Chang also operates an engineering branch in Brazil that supports the construction and commissioning of new plants. Additionally, a post-sales team of trained mechanics and assemblers provides ongoing technical support to ensure smooth operation once production commences.
Automation system
At VICTAM LatAm, Zheng Chang showcased its new automation system for feed mills, which enables real-time monitoring of production. The system also includes tools for inventory management, traceability, and tracking of raw materials from intake to final product delivery. In case of a problem at a farm, the traceability feature helps identify the source of the issue.
“Operators can now monitor consumption, verify processing parameters, and track maintenance needs,” Ni explained. “The system can also detect potential issues in advance and suggest corrective actions. This predictive capability helps reduce risks, ensures consistent product quality, and improves workforce efficiency, all within one integrated platform.”
Looking ahead
Zheng Chang recently commissioned a 500,000-ton-per-year aquafeed mill in China with four pelletizing lines and two extrusion lines, positioning it among the largest feed equipment suppliers in the country.
The company continues to focus on innovation and efficiency, reinvesting 5-10% of its annual revenue in research and technology. “We are constantly working to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs,” Vicente Ranalle, commercial director at Zheng Chang do Brasil, explained. “Our goal is to deliver equipment that maximizes performance at the lowest operational cost, with long-lasting durability.”
Looking to the future, Zheng Chang sees Brazil as one of the most promising markets. “It’s a large and growing industry with major investment opportunities, especially in aquafeed and storage capacity,” said Ranalle.
“Zheng Chang’s goal is to become a leader in Brazil, not just in Asia. We offer high-quality products and services, backed by a commitment to continuous improvement. Compared to Europe and Asia, Latin America still has room to grow technologically, and Zheng Chang offers some of the most advanced solutions available,” Ranalle concluded.
