At VICTAM Latam, Famsun showcased a new feature for its H Series twin-screw extruder, designed for both aquafeed and pet food production.
“This machine is an ideal choice for aquafeed production thanks to its intelligent control system and consistent quality. It’s also easy to operate and maintain, with a professional configuration that ensures broad applications and reliable, stable performance,” said David Ma, Deputy Director of Famsun’s R&D Institute, in an interview with Aquafeed.com.
The new design improves hygiene and accessibility, allowing the entire machine to be cleaned with a simple water flush. It also helps reduce start-up waste in the pre-conditioner, minimizing bypass materials by up to 80% and reducing rework.
To produce sinking feeds, a pressure control unit can be used to increase bulk density, enhancing production capacity. “That’s the technology we use extensively in Ecuador for producing sinking shrimp feed,” Ma explained.
Famsun has developed a micropellet module that can utilize a die size as small as 0.3 mm to produce 0.5 mm floating pellets and 0.4 mm sinking pellets.
The system integrates with Famsun’s SCADA control platform, FIMCOS, which manages the entire production line. Above that, a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) collects real-time data from each machine for automatic analysis, enabling OEE calculation, preventive maintenance, and quality control. Famsun also offers an interface compatible with various ERP systems used by feed manufacturers, including SAP, Amazon, and others.
Emerging trends
With aquafeed formulas becoming increasingly diverse, feed manufacturers are facing new processing challenges. One key trend is the need for extended pre-conditioning, often with three or four layers, to increase conditioning time.
“There are many different raw materials used in different countries, some with very high fiber content, for example. Nowadays, feed companies need more intensive pre-conditioning to soften the fibers and help raw materials absorb as much moisture as possible,” Ma said.
Another trend involves customized screw configurations. “We’ve built a database that helps customers select the optimal screw setup to match different recipes and local ingredients,” he added.
Although extrusion technology has largely matured, Famsun continues to explore innovations, particularly in pet food production, where extrusion temperatures tend to be higher than in aquafeed manufacturing.
“We’re looking for ways to lower extrusion temperatures to reduce nutrient loss while maintaining sufficient cooking. Our goal is to achieve high starch gelatinization at much lower temperatures,” Ma explained. “This aligns with Famsun’s ‘gentle cooking’ concept, ensuring optimal feed quality through precise thermal control that preserves nutrients, enhances digestibility, and delivers consistent product performance.”
Extrusion vs. pelleting
When asked for advice on switching to extrusion for companies producing pelleted feeds, Ma emphasized that the decision depends heavily on regional feed formulations and production goals.
“In Ecuador, shrimp feed formulas have much lower protein levels than in Asia,” Ma explained. “That’s because shrimp there can obtain part of their nutrition from natural feed available in the ponds. In contrast, in countries like Vietnam and China, shrimp rely entirely on manufactured feed, so those diets need a much higher protein content.”
He added that Ecuadorian diets use more plant-based protein sources, which increases fiber content. “With extrusion, you can achieve much higher production capacity per line, 15 to 20 tons, compared to a maximum of around five tons with a pellet mill,” Ma said.
“For producers who need higher capacity and have the necessary investment, extrusion is the best choice. But if financial resources are limited, pelleting can still be a practical option,” he noted.
However, in Asian markets, such as China, Vietnam, and Thailand, pelleting often remains the preferred option. “We’ve seen major producers, like Cargill, CP, Haida, and Tongwei, run side-by-side comparisons between extruded and pelleted feeds,” Ma said. “Their data show that pelleted feeds offer better palatability, lower processing temperatures, and less nutrient loss. In these regions, shrimp feeds typically contain higher levels of fishmeal to deliver sufficient protein, and the efficient utilization of that protein is critical, making pelleting a more suitable process. For Asia, pelleting will continue to be the right solution, while for Ecuador, extrusion is the better fit.”
China's shift toward high-value species
As China’s aquaculture industry transitions from low-value to high-value species, feed manufacturers are increasingly moving toward extruded feeds, a shift Famsun views as a key market opportunity. In line with this trend, an increasing number of extrusion lines are being built across the country, signaling rapid expansion and growing demand for high-performance extrusion technology.
“We have to provide customers with a complete solution,” Ma explained. “That means not just extrusion technology, but also systems like vacuum coating. For example, when feed producers want to add up to 40% oil, it requires optimized coating technology and greater precision in extrusion, such as producing pellets with smaller, uniformly distributed pores. These tiny and evenly formed pores help retain the oil within the pellet through a siphon effect, ensuring stable oil absorption and preventing surface leakage.”
“This shift in the aquaculture industry is certainly happening and a new market opportunity for Famsun,” Ma concluded.
