Dog and cat food manufacturers encounter many challenges in the production facility. The industry faces higher demands for throughput, quality and adaptability, compounded by labor shortages and the obligation to meet consumer demands.
Innovations in pet food processing can help manufacturers streamline processes, ensure consistent quality and target market trends.
Petfood Forum 2024 speakers outline the latest developments and research advancing pet food processing.
Tuesday, April 30 | Concurrent session: Innovations in pet food processing
- 1:30-1:55 — Enhancing pet food operational excellence and efficiency through innovative optimization approaches — Lynn Verstrepen, director product management, Bestmix Software
- 2:00-2:25 — From kibble to bytes: Automating pet food quality control — Dean Elkins, senior director, robotics and vision, Gray Solutions
- 3:00-3:20 — Using run data to determine pet food freeze dryer cycle endpoint — Gene Ligman, president, Suntorr
- 3:25-3:45 — Creating and processing new wet pet food products using alternative proteins — Rikke Miklos, Ph.D., global senior application specialist, Source Technology
- 3:50-4:10 — Impact of alternative proteins on pet food extrusion — Will Henry, director of technology/R&D, Extru-Tech
What is the single, most important concept you hope attendees will learn from your presentation?
Lynn Verstrepen
To be inspired and have an awareness that AI is not a buzzword anymore and can be implemented already step by step. The single most important concept that I hope attendees will grasp from the presentation is the innovative capacity of AI in both the formulation and production processes of pet food. Specifically, the ability of AI to predict recipe compositions and optimal production parameters based on predefined quality standards stands out. The overarching message is that AI has the capacity to revolutionize the pet food industry by streamlining processes, ensuring consistent quality, and offering new possibilities for recipe creation and production efficiency.
Learn more about Lynn’s presentation >
Dean Elkins
How the successful implementation of automation can aid in efficiency and quality gains within the pet food manufacturing environment. The use of robots, vision systems, and AMRs is far easier to implement, operate and maintain than in the past.
Learn more about Dean’s presentation >
Rikke Miklos
Protein functionality is a crucial factor when developing and producing healthy and appealing pet food based on alternative proteins.
Learn more about Rikke’s presentation >
