Wood & Biomass Pelleting systems

Wood fiber and biomass materials can be some of the most straightforward materials to feed — when the system is designed right. Wood sawdust flows well under the right conditions. Wood shavings are trickier due to their low bulk density and tendency to interlock and bridge. Getting either material into the pellet mill consistently comes down to system design from the start.

One thing worth noting — wood and biomass typically do require proper drying before the feeding system. Unlike some materials where moisture can be managed through blending and system design, wood fiber needs to hit the right moisture range upstream before it reaches your feeder. Once it does, the feeding system's job is to keep it moving consistently to the mill.

Common Feeding Challenges in Wood & Biomass Pelleting

Wood and biomass feeding problems are almost always a design issue rather than a material issue.

Common problems in poorly designed systems include:

Material bridging in hoppers and bins, particularly with wood shavings and low-density fiber

Inconsistent feed rates caused by bin level fluctuations and poor flow characteristics

Pellet mill surging or choking from uneven material delivery

Reduced pellet quality from unstable mill loading

The 3MT Approach

3MT designs wood and biomass feeding systems around how the material actually behaves. For low-density materials like wood shavings, we use a starve feed approach — keeping bin levels intentionally lower to prevent bridging and maintain consistent flow into the mill. Where material characteristics demand it, agitators and flow aids can be integrated directly into the feeder or upstream bulk bins to keep material moving reliably.

The goal is always the same — a consistent, controlled feed rate into the pellet mill without overcomplicating the system.

BEFORE YOU BUILD — TEST YOUR MATERIAL

Wood and biomass materials vary significantly depending on source, preparation, and particle size. Before any feeding system is designed or equipment is specified, 3MT recommends material testing to confirm your specific material will produce a viable pellet at your target production rate.

This is especially important for operators working with new or unconventional biomass feedstocks — what works for clean dry sawdust may not work the same way for mixed biomass or agricultural residue. Material testing gives you and 3MT the confidence to move forward knowing the process works before any significant investment is made.

learn more about material testing

Already Have a Team — Just Need the Plan?

One of the most common situations 3MT works with is operators who have capable mechanical people already on the floor but need someone to design the system correctly from the start and make sure startup goes smoothly.

If that sounds like your operation 3MT offers consulting and system design services that give your team exactly what they need — a properly engineered layout, equipment specifications, and a clear plan to build from. You bring the labor and mechanical capability, 3MT brings the system design expertise and the feeding equipment.

Once the system is built 3MT's startup and commissioning services make sure everything runs the way it was designed to. Having the right person on site during first production runs catches problems early, gets your team up to speed faster, and protects the investment you've made in the system.

It's a practical and cost effective way for operations with strong internal teams to get a professionally designed system without paying for full turnkey installation.

psm feeders

The PSM feeder handles wood shavings and sawdust well. Its surge hopper design absorbs upstream variation and delivers steady controlled feed to the mill — and can be configured with agitation where the material requires it.

learn more about psm feeders

LIW / GIW SYSTEMS

For larger operations or multi-ingredient biomass blends requiring precise metering, our LIW systems provide accurate, repeatable batch control at rates up to 8,000 lbs/hr — built on the same proven PSM platform.

learn more about liw / giw systems

material handling

Conveying and material handling systems are designed around your specific material type, bulk density, and plant layout to keep wood and biomass moving cleanly through every stage of production.

learn more about conveying

Wood & Biomass Pelleting systems

Common Feeding Challenges in Wood & Biomass Pelleting

The 3MT Approach

BEFORE YOU BUILD — TEST YOUR MATERIAL

Already Have a Team — Just Need the Plan?

psm feeders

LIW / GIW SYSTEMS

material handling

material handling

Ready to Talk About Your Wood & Biomass Feeding System?

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