Pet food production is an intricate process that demands precise handling and transportation of varied materials. At the heart of this industry, the question stands: “What type of pet food materials can be moved by tube conveyors systems?” If you opt for a tubular conveyor, you won’t make a mistake because it’s designed to transport diverse ingredients ranging from crunchy kibbles to semi-moist morsels and even select liquid additives.
A Brief Analysis of Growth and Challenges of the Global Pet Food Market
In 2018, the global pet care industry has surpassed $125 billion. By 2025, it’s expected to grow at about three times the pace of that of the packaged food industry, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6%. But in light of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, retail sales of pet products and services in the United States are expected to fall by 17% in 2020. However, pet food sales are still expected to grow by 4% in 2020.
The rise of the global pet food market can be correlated to several trends and factors, such as an overall increase in nuclear families in the United States and abroad, the rapid humanization of pets, as well as the increased awareness about pet health. There are, however, some increasing concerns, particularly in terms of pet obesity, as well as the occasional pet food recalls that make it into the news.
Methods for Enhancing Pet Wellness
Some governments around the world have taken various initiatives to promote the use of safe and healthy ingredients in an attempt to improve the overall wellness of their citizens’ pets. In addition, public demand for greater transparency regarding product quality and labeling has also increased.
This is due, in large part, to their increasing concerns about their pets’ wellbeing. In response, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has set stricter regulations regarding pet food labeling. Also, the FDA assesses claims made on pet food packaging such as “hairball control,” “low magnesium,” “improves bone density,” etc.
Pet Food Segmentation
The pet food market is typically segmented based on several criteria. Among these, we have pet type, product type, and ingredient type, among others like sales channel and geography.
Pet Type
When it comes to the pet type, there are cats, dogs, birds, fish, and others. Dogs are the fastest-growing pet group, mainly because of the increase of nuclear families, as well as people’s inclination towards them for companionship and security.
Product Type
In terms of product type, there is dry food, wet/canned food, treats and snacks, veterinary pet food, organic, and others. As the fastest growing, the dog food market sees the highest growth in dry food. For cats, wet/canned food is the preferred option.
Ingredient Type
Based on ingredients, pet food manufacturers will use a wide range of agricultural ingredients in their recipes. Among these, we can include meat, poultry, seafood, feed grains, and some byproducts from human food processing. These ingredients need to be carefully selected based on their nutrient profile as well as their functional contribution to pet food production. The purpose is to provide complete nutrition for pets.
Vitamins, minerals, and preservatives are added when needed to ensure that their products will provide total nutrition values while remaining wholesome in transit or during storage. All the ingredients used in food processing need to be accepted by the FDA and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). These are the same agencies that regulate human food production.
What Conveyor Technologies Can Be Used for Transporting Pet Food?
Among the popular conveyor systems used in the pet food industry to carry dry bulk materials, we can consider bucket elevators, screw conveyors, conveyor belt system, pneumatic conveyors for powder materials, overhead conveyors, and many other types of conveying systems available on the market. However, there are plenty of drawbacks and limitations when it comes to the efficiency and risk of contamination when using these types of conveying equipment to move materials.
Several of these issues include things like the difficulty to clean and sanitize properly and effectively without incurring significant downtime. There’s also the issue of contamination of the conveying material, the process equipment, as well as the rest of the facility’s environment.
Why Is a Tubular Conveying System the Best Alternative?
Enclosed tubing offers a much better and more efficient alternative. It answers all of these issues as well as others. Tubular conveying systems stand out among industrial conveyor systems for their superior efficiency and versatility.
Unlike traditional conveyors, these systems are adept at transporting diverse materials, from granular pet food ingredients to delicate pharmaceutical powders, even under challenging conditions, while minimizing spillage, material breakage, and contamination. Given their design and functionality, combined with their ability to handle materials like grains, chemicals, or minerals, they represent the forefront of modern conveying technology.
What Type of Pet Food Materials Can Be Moved by Tube Conveyor Systems?
When it comes to what types of pet food can be transported with a tubular drag conveyor, the short answer is many of them. Cablevey’s conveyors can move most friable products if they are dry and if they are
- Powdered,
- Cooked,
- Chopped,
- Flaked
- Extruded.
There are also several other benefits to tubular systems utilizing a drag conveyor and cable and disc conveyor design.
Enclosed Conveyors Ensure Minimum Product Breakage
The majority of the feed handling system requires a delicate approach. Most pet food, be it for cats, dogs, birds, or fish, cannot be disturbed in any significant way without resulting in considerable product breakage. This may result in waste as well as the potential for cross-contamination.
There are also several other factors that can influence this, such as the conveyor speed, sudden temperature changes, poor inlet design, and more. Enclosed tube conveyors, by their unique design, keep product breakage at an absolute minimum.
Tubular Conveyor Systems Manufacturers Guarantee Maintaining Proportionate Blends
With pet food ingredients presenting different granularities and bulk density, separation is likely to happen with vacuum pumps or pneumatic conveying, among other such systems. This will influence the proportional accuracy of the blends.
There have been plenty of reported cases when the wrong combination of grains or the wrong mix of minerals or nutrients is used in a blend. Our unique systems maintain blend integrity by containing the materials in between discs within our tubing.
Cablevey’s tubular conveyors are better than vacuums, buckets, and pneumatic conveyor systems because of how the tube systems move the material mixes without actually changing the ratios of the specific recipes defined by the veterinarian or nutritionist. Based on the different diameter tube conveyors, pet food manufacturers can transport materials of different shapes and sizes without waste, blend separation, or damage.
It’s Possible to Invest in Flexible and Customized Designs
Cable and tube conveyor systems are also designed in such a way as to offer maximum flexibility in a wide range of applications. Different diameter tube conveyor systems, materials, and components come equipped with a full range of feeders, cleaning, and transfer system components that allow pet food manufacturers to maximize their production no matter the facility layout.
And since all pet food conveyor systems are custom-specified by an engineering department based on your unique needs and configurations, this will also ensure everything will work as efficiently and as hassle-free as possible. Take advantage of the convenience, less downtime, full sanitary compliance, and pet food production versatility that manufacturers offer.
Trust Cablevey Conveyors And Get Top-Notch Automated Conveyor Systems
At Cablevey Conveyors, we pride ourselves on delivering state-of-the-art tubular conveyor solutions tailored to the unique needs of our clients. With years of expertise in the field, our dedicated team provides not only top-notch automated conveyor systems but also offers great conveyor installation supervision to ensure seamless operation. If you’re looking for reliability and efficiency in a conveying solution, don’t hesitate to contact us. Let us guide you toward a future where your material transport is both effective and hassle-free.
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