Cost of a wrong decision

Why feed mill quotations cannot be compared on CAPEX alone

Short answer

CAPEX is one dimension of five. A defensible comparison also requires the scope boundary (what each price includes and excludes), the throughput basis (expected tonnes per hour on your recipe, not nominal), the operating cost (energy per tonne, wear parts, labour at the offered automation level), the aftermarket position (spare availability, service response, warranty) and the schedule (lead time, installation duration, and the cost of a later start). Rank on scope-adjusted CAPEX per expected tonne per hour, then check that the other four dimensions do not reverse the ranking — they often do.

Procurement committees ask for one number. The honest answer is a small table, which is faster to defend than a single figure that turns out to be wrong.

Compare feed mill quotations on one scope

The five dimensions

Scope: excluded lines priced locally and added back
Throughput: expected tonnes per hour on your written recipe
Operating cost: energy per tonne, wear parts per tonne, labour headcount
Aftermarket: spare lead time, service response, warranty coverage
Schedule: lead time, installation duration, revenue cost of a later start

A defensible ranking method

Normalise scope, then compute scope-adjusted CAPEX
Divide by expected tonnes per hour to get CAPEX per installed t/h
Add five-year energy, wear-part and labour cost to reach an indicative lifecycle figure
Record aftermarket and schedule as qualitative flags, not hidden adjustments
Document the assumptions — that is what survives an audit or a lender review

Questions buyers ask

What single metric is most useful?

Scope-adjusted CAPEX per expected tonne per hour is the most useful single metric, but it should never be used without the energy, aftermarket and schedule columns beside it.

How do I present this to a board or lender?

One table with the five dimensions, the stated assumptions and the exclusions per proposal. Explicit assumptions are what make the recommendation reviewable.

Continue the decision

How to compare feed mill quotations Before you request quotes for a feed mill Feed mill RFQ template Lifecycle cost calculator How to size feed mill capacity before quoting Aqua feed extrusion planning guides

Compare feed mill quotations on one scope

Write the requirement once and send the same document to every supplier you are considering, including one you already prefer. FeedMatch sells nothing and takes no part in the contract.

Compare feed mill quotations on one scope

Scope and neutrality

FeedMatch Group is an independent, supplier-neutral procurement platform. It does not manufacture, install or commission feed-processing equipment and is not an EPC contractor.
FeedMatch does not sell feed, ingredients, premixes or additives and does not act as a trader.
FeedMatch is not a bank, lender, credit provider or financial adviser. Financing, where relevant, is arranged by independent third parties.
Calculator outputs and planning ranges on this site are indicative inputs for your own evaluation, not quotations, nutritional advice or performance guarantees.