Development data
As is our practice, ETI has validated the versatility and functionality
of the MCMS via independent production collaborations and
numerous production trial runs. Table 1 is a valid representation of
the added value that an MCMS will bring to a typical petfood facility.
The major point to consider when reviewing this data is the total extruded
tons, which for the four-color MCMS was at 558, while the average for the
prior three weeks using a typical blending bin setup was only 349. When
correlated to dollars, this difference goes straight to the bottom line.
And speaking of the bottom line …
To help summarize the information in this issue, Table 2 compares all the
options discussed, along with some estimated dollar figures to help correlate
the solutions to your particular configuration. ■
Table 1: MCMS vs. normal configuration
Table 2: Comparing three production options
Normal extrusion configuration
August
2
August
9
August
Average
16
4-color
MCMS
August
22
Equipment cost
Blending
system
US$750,000
4-color MCMS
US$233,000
Multiple
cxtruders
US$2 million
Space requirement
400 ft2
36 ft2
1,000 ft2
Extruded tons
378
321
348
349
558
Ease of install
Medium
High
Low
Tons/hour
with downtime
Tons/hour
without downtime
Downtime
hours/week
5. 3
4. 5
5. 4
5.0
5. 5
Ease of use
High*
High**
Low
6. 8
6. 5
6. 4
6. 6
5.9
Flexibility
High*
Medium
High
Energy use
Low
Low
High
16.5
22.7
9.3
16.2
7.0
Waste generation
5-7%
1%
3-5%
% downtime
22.9
31.5
14.5
22.9
6.9
Consistency
Low
Very high
Low
In terms of total extruded tons, the MCMS beats a traditional extrusion setup.
The MCMS’s advantages over other options are clear.
*If PLC controlled. **With manual controls, but better with PLC controls.