Q1: What is the difference between the HIO farm flaking system and an SFC flaking line?
Bellaex's Answer:
The main difference is where you use the flakes and whether drying/cooling is included.
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HIO farm flaking system
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Designed for on‑farm use: the flakes are used directly on the ranch, for example in your own TMR or feed rations.
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Normally does not include a dryer and cooler, so the flakes are used shortly after production, not stored for a long time or sold as commercial feed.
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More suitable for ranches’ own use, not for large‑scale commercial feed sales.
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SFC flaking line with drying and cooling
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Designed for commercial flake production and sales.
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Includes dryer and cooler, which:
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Control the final moisture of the flakes;
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Improve shelf life and storage stability;
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Help meet market and regulatory requirements for commercial feed products.
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In simple terms:
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Use HIO if you are mainly feeding your own farm animals and do not need long storage.
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Use an SFC flaking line with drying and cooling if you want to produce flakes for sale and need controlled moisture and longer shelf life.
Q2: Can the machine/line run 24 hours continuously?
Bellaex's Answer:
Yes, the line supports 24/7 continuous operation, provided that standard maintenance intervals are followed and operator shifts are arranged properly.
Q3: What is the difference between your "grain/corn flaking solutions" and a "grain/corn flaking machine"?
Bellaex's Answer:
Our "grain / corn flaking solutions" refer to complete process lines, while a "grain / corn flaking machine" refers to a single flaking mill only.
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Grain/Corn flaking solutions
A flaking solution normally includes:
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Process design and layout
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Feeding and cleaning section (intake, pre‑cleaning, etc.)
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Conditioning / steaming (if required)
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Flaking mill(s)
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Dryer and cooler (for commercial products)
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Conveying, aspiration, and auxiliary systems
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Electrical control and automation for the whole line
This is a turnkey solution covering the entire process from raw material intake to finished flakes.
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Grain/Corn flaking machine
A flaking machine only includes:
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The flaking mill itself (main roller, feed roller, frame, drive, basic controls)
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Without upstream and downstream process sections or other supporting equipment
This is suitable if you already have most of the line and only need to add or replace a flaking mill.
Q4: What energy sources can your flaking line / conditioning system use?
Bellaex's Answer: Our system supports multiple heat sources for steam or thermal energy. In practice, we can adapt the design to the energy that is easiest and most economical for you locally.
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Supported energy options
Typically, we can work with:
Coal (where allowed by local regulations)
Biomass pellets
Natural gas
Diesel / fuel oil
LPG (liquefied petroleum gas)
Electric boiler
Biogas (if conditions are met)
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Typical cost ranking (from low to high)
In many markets, the typical operating cost is approximately:
(Exact cost depends on your local energy prices and policies.)
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Biogas feasibility
Biogas is possible, but it depends on stable steam generation. As a guideline:
If your biogas system can stably produce around 0.5 t/h (400–500 kg/h) of steam
At around 4 MPa (or according to your process requirement)
Then biogas is a viable option as a heat source.
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About electric boilers
We can use an electric boiler, but in most regions the running cost is relatively high, so it is usually chosen only when:
Electricity is very cheap or subsidized, or
Other fuels (gas, diesel, biomass) are difficult to obtain or restricted.
Q5: With a dryer, how many days can flaked corn be stored?
Bellaex's Answer:
For on‑farm use (no/full drying): we still recommend using within about 3 days to avoid mold and quality loss.
For commercial sale, drying and cooling to around ~14% moisture can significantly extend storage time, but the exact shelf life depends on packaging and warehouse conditions (temperature, humidity, ventilation, pests).
Q6: How is steam generated? By LPG, diesel, electricity, or other sources? Does the steam generator price change with the fuel type?
Bellaex's Answer:
We support multiple heat sources for steam generation, such as LPG/natural gas, diesel, biomass, and electric boiler.
The equipment price of the steam generator is basically consistent for different fuels; the main difference is in the operating cost, which depends on local fuel or electricity prices.
We can provide reference fuel/electricity consumption (e.g. per 0.5 t steam) so you can compare running costs.
Q7：Why does a higher‑capacity line need more energy/steam? I thought big lines used less steam per ton.
Bellaex's Answer:
For total steam, bigger lines use more. But per ton, large lines can be more efficient.
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Large capacity lines
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Can use multiple boilers / combined systems,
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So losses are shared, and the steam consumption per ton of flakes is lower than many small independent systems.
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Small capacity lines
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Need extra reserve steam capacity to handle instant peaks and system losses,
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So the configured steam capacity per ton looks higher, even though the actual production is smaller.
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In short:
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Total steam ↑ with capacity,
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But kg steam per ton can be lower on big lines, while small lines need more “buffer” steam to stay stable.
