Three Benefits of Feed Mill Process Optimisation
VDS Premix focus fully on customer needs, which is why, in addition to the development of premixes and additives, they also advise customers on feed mill process optimisation. To this end, they actively provide quality local support to feed mills in various regions around the world, including in the Middle East and countries such as Cameroon and India. Why is process optimisation important for all feed producers, though? Wouter Gardyn, project manager at VDS Premix, explains three of the benefits.
Projects Worldwide
Whether a customer needs expert help in setting up a new plant or wants to improve their feed quality, “All our process optimisation services are designed to fit our customers’ needs,” says Wouter. For example, VDS Premix pays monthly visits to a Middle Eastern feed mill to help them with their daily management, alternating this with remote assistance. In Cameroon, on the other hand, an employee is available full-time to support the launch of the new plant. “In India, our support concerns the technical aspects of the sales process and we also helped fine-tune the feed itself. Everything we do is fully tailored to their specific needs,” says Wouter.
1. More Efficient Production Within Current Constraints
Some customers prefer to buy more affordable machines and then process the products manually. According to Wouter, VDS Premix always aims to automate manual processes insofar as possible and if desired. “If we see a lot of manual processes, we work out proposals to reduce the amount of manual processing within current constraints. Is a new press required to eliminate the need for human intervention in the production of a specific pellet? In that case, we will clarify both the advantages and the restrictions, allowing our customer to come to a well-reasoned decision.” If automation is not feasible, VDS Premix’s team adapts to the circumstances and designs everything to operate as efficiently as possible within those constraints.
2. Better Feed Quality
As a producer of feed premixes and additives, VDS Premix has plenty of expert knowledge about feed quality. “Depending on the specific conditions at feed plants in other countries, we can propose solutions to improve the feed quality. For instance, pellets for shrimp must meet certain requirements: they need to be hard enough to stay stable after being immersed in water for an hour, while also releasing flavouring agents into the water in that first hour. Thanks to our expertise, we can process these pellets in such a way that they will be of excellent quality,” Wouter continues. The next step is to design a system for the most efficient pellet production.
3. The right Suppliers and Raw Materials
Often, a customer has no idea how to implement improvements. In such cases, VDS Premix makes a site visit to identify the current processes. VDS Premix’s experts then describe the current systems’ capacity and possibilities honestly and indicate what investments will be required for optimisation. Sometimes, they even help support the launch of a new plant. “We also make sure to investigate whether they are using the right raw materials so they aren’t paying too much, that their formulas are in order, and the technical specifications are correct. If not, we make their processes more efficient by selecting suitable suppliers and raw materials and explaining these choices to our customers,” Wouter concludes.
Could your feed mill benefit from process optimisation?
VDS Premix’s experts would be happy to explain all the possibilities regarding process optimisation.
