What Is Pelleting

Pelleting is compressing a product (usually agricultural) through a small hole in a metal die in a process called extrusion. In this process a natural glue called Lignin is released from the cellulose molecules of the raw material. It becomes semi liquid under the heat of extrusion and small amounts of water in the raw material turns into steam and carries the lignin to the surface of the pellet. When the pellet cools it has a shiny surface coating of Lignin that holds the pellet together.

The pellets thus created are then stored for use in some other process at some other time. Rabbit food for instance is usually alfalfa that has been dried to about 15 percent moisture content, ground into small pieces, pelletized and bagged. By pelletizing the alfalfa it takes up less space, It is heated due to the extreme pressure in the pelleting process and thus cooks a bit which removes most pathogens, and sterilizes most seeds. Once pelletized the dehydrated alfalfa has a nearly indefinite shelf life. Many agricultural products can be pelletized for the purpose of animal feed in this manner.

Another common use for pelletized products these days is for energy production. Waste wood products like sawdust are treated to obtain the correct moisture content by drying or humidifying and then extruded into pellets. The pellets are bagged and then burned when needed to generate heat in a special stove called a pellet stove. They are also commonly used in power plants that would normally use coal to generate electricity without generating extra carbon dioxide. Many believe extra carbon dioxide is causing our planet to become warmer. Thus pelleting is considered to be a green project.

About My Products And Prices

Most of the products you will see on this site were made for somebody else. I build them to order as my customers need them. That way I don’t have to manufacture them and warehouse them in advance of my customers orders. It costs me much less that way and I am able to pass that savings on to you. This is called Pro-Forma sales. You are buying the product before it has actually been made. Thus the prices listed may change from time to time without notice.

Once a customer places an order with me, I schedule factory time at one of my business partners manufacturing plants, usually in China. (My Chinese friends say all the good stuff comes from China. My American friends say everything comes from China) For this reason it takes several weeks to a month to manufacture and clear export customs in China. It then takes another month  or so to ship the product across the pacific, clear US customs and be placed for your pick up at a central shipping terminal somewhere near your location

Thanks for your interest in my products.

Dan Apted, GM Apted Technologies Inc, DBA Alaska Pellet Mill

1515 E. Tudor Rd. #6

Anchorage, Alaska 99507

907-952-1903