The main factor of a die' service time

★ The lifespan of a die depends on many factors :

• the composition of the raw material (formulation)
• the particle size of the mash.
• the moisture content before pelleting.
• the heat conditioning of the mash.
• the pellet mill controls (i.e. automatic or manual).
• composition ratio.
• the composition of the raw material (formulation).
• the daily maintenance.
• High fibre formulations such as rabbit feed are harder to pellet and therefore the die will have a much shorter lifespan. As a comparison, for instance, if the lifespan of a die is 1 when used to make rabbit feed, it would be 4 for cattle feed and 5 when used on poultry feed.

• raw material characteristics
• Raw materials containing silica or sand. dies will wear more rapidly.
• Fat content.
• Formulas containing 1.5-2% fat run smoother and are less abrasive since the fat acts as a lubricant.
• Mashes with large particle sizes are more abrasive.
• Moisture content and heat conditioning of the mash (a poorly conditioned mash is drier and harder to pellet.)
• Press control

The operator should regularly check for wear on deflectors and scrapers as usual and also on the roll adjustment to avoid uneven wear on the die leading to inefficient pelleting. Conditioner paddles must not be worn to ensure efficient pre-conditioning. Steam traps and filters ensure that no condensate passes through to the conditioner.