Wood Pellet Machines vs. Briquetting Machines 

Wood pellet machines take fine particles of wood and turn them into products that can be used in industrial fuel, animal bedding, and grilling or cooking. They’re an excellent option for turning wood waste into revenue.

At RUF, we’re often asked about wood pellets. And while our briquetting machines also produce a quality product that can be sold to create a revenue stream, there are quite a few differences. 

Wood Pellet Machine

Wood Briquetting Machine

What kind of companies use wood pellet machines?

Wood manufacturers that select wood pellet machines are often large-scale businesses, with higher operations costs, perhaps two to three times the size of a company just entering the briquetting world. Typically, manufacturers producing big volumes of waste that need to be turned into something useful are good candidates for wood pellet machines.

What is the minimum volume a company would need to produce to make a wood pellet machine worth it?

A wood pellet machine is ideal for a company producing 80,000 to 120,000 pounds per month of wood waste. A wood pellet machine can be used with less volume, but it’s wise to do an ROI study to see how it would net out for your company.

For companies too small for wood pelleting, wood briquetting may be the right choice. If a company produces 300 to 500 pounds per hour, wood briquetting can make sense. For example, a RUF entry-level wood briquetting machine can accommodate 500 to 700 pounds of material per hour. Briquetting adds tremendous value to operations, and often pays for itself within 18 months, which is why more and more companies are considering it.

You can see there’s a range of uses—and some gray areas—for using wood pellet machines and briquetters. The end goal, material volume, growth trajectory, and more all factor into whether a company chooses a wood pellet machine vs. a wood briquetting machine.

What’s the best value for your company? Start a conversation with RUF. We’ll listen to your questions and concerns and can point you in the right direction. (And it might not be us.)