When preparing to use a pellet machine, source local raw materials first.
Importing distant materials will push up your production costs.
Raw materials fall into two groups: wood materials like logs, sawdust and furniture scraps;
agricultural waste such as straw, corn cobs and rice husks.
Five factors to evaluate raw material quality and cost efficiency
Material quality: Dense wood with high oil content delivers high calorific value and low ash.
Agricultural waste only reaches about 3000 kcal.
Cleanliness: Excessive soil and bark reduce pellet quality and increase total costs.
Storage: Poor long-term storage leads to mold, lowering heat value and increasing ash content.
Moisture level: Fresh logs contain 55% moisture and clumpy sawdust 45%.
Dry materials process smoothly on pellet machines, while wet ones require extra drying costs.
Material shape: Sawdust and fluffy materials skip re-crushing to cut costs. Large materials need extra crushing procedures.
You can judge whether raw materials are worth their price based on the above five aspects.
New entrants are recommended to produce wood pellets for broader market demand and easier operation.