Automatic Salt Lick Block Machine for Livestock: Shandong Zhongyou Heavy Industry Leads the Industry Transformation with Innovation
In the global wave of intelligent and intensive transformation in the livestock industry, an automated device (self-developed) by a Chinese enterprise—the fully automatic hydraulic press for cattle and sheep salt lick blocks—is reshaping the industry landscape with its groundbreaking technological advantages. As a benchmark enterprise in this field, Shandong Zhongyou Heavy Industry Machinery Co., Ltd., with 20 years of profound experience in hydraulic press manufacturing, has not only overcome core challenges such as the uniformity of salt lick block density and rapid mold replacement but also become the “preferred partner” for global ranch owners through fully automated production lines and customized service solutions.
Technological Breakthroughs: A Leap from “Manual Pressing” to “Intelligent Manufacturing”
Traditional salt lick block production relies on manual material filling and mold removal, resulting in low efficiency, significant density fluctuations in the products, and issues such as cracking and powder shedding. Shandong Zhongyou Heavy Industry’s YQ-300 series fully automatic hydraulic press achieves a qualitative leap through three innovative technologies:
High-Pressure Precision Pressing System
Utilizing a four-column guiding design, the press can generate a pressure of up to 1200 tons. Coupled with a PLC intelligent control system, it enables real-time adjustment of pressing parameters, ensuring that the density error of each salt lick block is less than ±1%. The hardness of the blocks is comparable to that of stone, maintaining structural stability even in high-humidity and strong sandstorm environments.
Fully Automatic Material Circulation System
The equipment integrates a vibration (material distribution) device and a screw feeder. After the raw materials are mixed, they are automatically filled into the molds without manual intervention. A single machine can produce over 2000 blocks per day, a fivefold increase compared to traditional methods.
Modular Mold Rapid Switching
Mold replacement time is shortened to within 10 minutes. The press supports the production of square, round, and irregularly shaped salt lick blocks weighing from 1 kg to 20 kg. It can even customize special formulas with added vitamins and trace elements to meet the nutritional needs of different livestock such as dairy cows, meat sheep, and camels.
Pull-Down Demolding
By applying reverse force through the oil cylinder, this method avoids surface scratches on the salt lick blocks caused by traditional top-out demolding, increasing the finished product rate to 99.2%.
Multi-Stage Pressure Buffering
At the end of the pressing process, the system automatically reduces the pressure increase rate, preventing the splashing of trace element powders. This not only ensures operational safety but also reduces raw material waste.
These technological achievements have passed ISO9001 quality management system certification, EU CE certification, and SGS international testing. The equipment has been exported to over 30 countries, including Australia, Brazil, and Mongolia, and operates stably in extreme climatic conditions such as -40°C in the Mongolian Plateau and 50°C in the Middle East.
Customized Services: From Standalone Machine Sales to Full Industry Chain Solutions
“What customers need is not just a single machine but a complete production system,” said a company representative. The company has introduced a “turnkey project” service model, covering:
Production Line Planning
Based on the scale of the ranch, customized capacity configurations are provided. For example, an 800-ton fully automatic production line designed for a million-head ranch in Inner Mongolia integrates the entire process of raw material crushing, mixing, pressing, and packaging, with an annual capacity of 5000 tons.
Remote Operation and Maintenance Support
Through an IoT system, the equipment’s operational status is monitored in real-time, and fault warning response times are shortened to within 2 hours. A global spare parts warehousing network ensures delivery within 48 hours.
Market Response: Global Ranch Owners’ Praise for “Chinese Intelligent Manufacturing”
In Queensland, Australia, ranch owner James commented after using Shandong Zhongyou Heavy Industry’s 500-ton hydraulic press: “The equipment has been running fault-free for two years. The produced salt lick blocks have uniform density, and the stable intake by the cattle has led to a 0.3% increase in milk protein content.” In Minas Gerais, Brazil, customer Mario praised: “The convenient mold replacement allows us to quickly switch product specifications and seize market demand during peak seasons.”
According to industry data, by 2025, Shandong Zhongyou Heavy Industry had achieved a 38% market share in the global salt lick block machine market, ranking first for five consecutive years. The company’s annual production capacity has exceeded 2000 units, with 60% exported overseas, making it a benchmark case for “Made in China” in the livestock equipment sector.
Future Outlook: Dual Upgrades in Intelligence and Green Manufacturing
Facing the global livestock industry’s demand for sustainable development, Shandong Zhongyou Heavy Industry is accelerating its布局 (layout) in two key areas:
AI-Empowered Production
The company is developing intelligent hydraulic presses equipped with visual recognition systems that can automatically detect surface defects on salt lick blocks and upload production data to the cloud, assisting ranches in achieving digital management.
Low-Carbon Manufacturing Processes
By optimizing the energy efficiency of the hydraulic system, the company aims to reduce energy consumption per unit product by 20%. Additionally, it is introducing recyclable mold materials to minimize resource waste.
Shandong Zhongyou Heavy Industry continues to lead the way in innovation, setting new standards for the global livestock equipment industry.
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