Pet food packaging automation
The Pet Food industry continues to grow worldwide, driving the need for increasingly efficient, accurate, and cost-effective production processes. One of the biggest challenges for manufacturers is achieving high packaging speeds while maintaining weight accuracy, bag quality, and food safety standards.
A modern automated packaging line can package dog kibble at speeds of up to 80 bags per minute, reducing operating costs, minimizing product waste, and improving overall plant productivity.
In this article, we explain how a complete pet food packaging line is configured and the equipment involved at each stage of the process.
What Equipment Makes Up a Dog Kibble Packaging Line?
A high-speed automated packaging line typically consists of:
- Feeding elevator.
- Multihead weigher.
- Doypack packaging machine.
- Metal detector.
- Checkweigher (optional).
- Labeling system.
- Outfeed conveyors.
- Automatic case packing system (optional).
All equipment operates in synchronization to maintain a continuous production flow.
Stage 1: Product Feeding
The kibble from production is transported via elevators to the multihead weigher.
The system must ensure:
- Continuous feeding.
- No product breakage.
- Uniform product flow.
- Hygiene and easy cleaning.
Stability at this stage is essential to achieve high operating speeds.
Step 2: Multihead Weighing System
The multihead weigher is the heart of the line.
Its function is to combine different hoppers to achieve the exact target weight for each discharge.
Advantages
- High accuracy.
- Reduced overfill.
- Minimization of product giveaway.
- High operating speed.
- Adaptability to different bag formats.
Depending on kibble size and target weight, a multihead weigher can feed a line capable of reaching 80 bags per minute or even higher speeds.
Example
For bags of:
- 500g
- 1kg
- 2kg
Accuracy can be maintained within very tight tolerances, optimizing production costs.
Do you need support in automating your pet food production line?
Stage 3: Bag Feeding and Filling
The VFFS vertical packaging machine automatically forms the bag from a film roll.
The process includes:
- Automatic bag feeder.
- Bag opening,
- Product dosing.
- Bag sealing.
- Checkweighing (optional).
Bags types
- Flat-bottom stand-up pouch.
- Flat stand-up pouch.
- Stand-up pouch with zipper.
In all cases, the bag is preformed, and the selection depends on the sales channel and the brand positioning.
How to Reach 80 Bags per Minute
To achieve these speeds, it is necessary to optimize several factors:
1. Consistent product flow
Feeding must remain uniform throughout the entire process.
2. Correct weigher configuration
Combination programming directly impacts productivity.
3. High-quality bags
Inadequate materials can cause:
- Opening issues.
- Poor sealing.
- Bag breakage.
4. Equipment synchronization
All elements must work in coordination to avoid bottlenecks.
Food Safety & Quality Control
Product safety is a top priority for any pet food manufacturer.
For this reason, it is recommended to include:
Metal detector
Detects potential metal contaminants.
Checkweigher
Verifies that all bags meet the target weight specifications.
Inspection systems
Ensure final product quality before reaching the consumer.
Economic Advantages of Packaging Automation
Companies that replace manual processes with automated systems typically achieve:
Higher productivity
More output with fewer resources.
Lower labor costs
Reduction of repetitive tasks.
Reduced product giveaway
Improved weighing accuracy.
Fewer errors
Automated process control.
Better brand image
Consistent and professional product presentation.
Case Study
A pet food manufacturer producing several tons per day can significantly improve its performance by implementing an automated line composed of:
- Multihead weigher.
- Doypack packaging machine.
- Metal detector.
The result is typically:
- Increased production capacity productiva.
- Reduced waste.
- Improved quality control.
- Higher profitability.
What solution does your business need?
Each product has different characteristics:
- Small kibble.
- Large kibble.
- Pet snacks.
- Extruded pet food.
- Special blends.
Therefore, it is important to analyze:
- Required production capacity.
- Bag format.
- Target weight.
- Available space.
- Desired level of automation.
Request a Customized Study
Our team can analyze your product and recommend the most suitable solution for your packaging process.
Contact Exaktapack
Are you looking for a complete pet food packaging line?
Our technical team can help you select the optimal configuration to achieve maximum productivity and profitability.
Phone:
(+34) 936 360 673
Email:
info@exaktapack.com
