Ferotec

RING-SHAPED DIES

Dies for pellet mills

Dies for pellet mills

Ring-shaped dies are the most common type of die, used for high-density products. This die delivers high productivity and allows high compression ratios. It’s used for compound feeds, as well as for a wide variety of other products: alfalfa, sugar beet, fertiliser, minerals, wood, straw, household and industrial waste, and more.
Manufactured from forged rings, Ferotec’s ring-shaped dies provide guaranteed strength and can be adapted to all types of product.

At its historic facility, Ferotec provides technical expertise throughout the production process, including heat treatment. Our know-how allows us to cater for all types of requests from our partners, including all types of die with cylindrical, conical, or clamp fittings.
Each die is unique and specially adapted to the most demanding productivity and durability criteria. Our sales advisors are on hand to provide service – right alongside the users of Ferotec dies. Depending on the product to be pelleted and user expectations, the type of bore, the alloy, the percentage of open surface area, and the counterboring type can all be adjusted.

A number of different factors
are involved
in improving a die

Drilling diameter
Compression ratio
Hole pattern
Type of counterbore
Type of steel
Die hardness (Rockwell C)

Different types of drilling

Standard drilling

  • Feed
  • Other

Double counterboring: conical/cylindrical

  • Biomass
  • Alfalfa and sugar beet
  • Minerals
  • Other

Cylindrical inlet

  • Feed
  • Alfalfa

Conical inlet

  • Feed
  • Alfalfa

Double counterboring (cylindrical):

  • Biomass

Cylindrical counterboring

  • Feed
  • Biomass
  • Other

Triple counterboring (cylindrical):

  • Biomass

Conical counterboring

  • Feed
  • Biomass
  • Minerals

Diagonal drilling

Standard hole pattern

This hole pattern is known as “standard” and is the most widely-used. It ensures a strong die, with uniform distribution of the stresses it undergoes.

Benefits
Diagonal drilling is suitable for all types of product (including feed, biomass, and minerals) and shell type (dimpled or corrugated).

Limits
This layout does not optimize productivity, because the product takes more time to enter the holes. There are also no power savings.

Parallel drilling

Optimized hole pattern

Benefits
With more rows and fewer holes per row, this layout is suitable for higher flow rates. The product passes through the die quickly, with less wear on the track: this cuts the risk of the holes becoming clogged. Die peening is more uniform. Fast product throughput results in power variations decreasing by 3-10%.

Limits
For best results, this type of drilling requires proper adjustment of the gap between the rollers and the die, and the use of a dimpled shell without chamfer. The most visible benefits are for poultry feed.
The die is less stress-resistant, because there is less metal between the rows.

Note: parallel drilling does not provide more holes than standard drilling. Only the hole pattern differs.