GEA has developed a comprehensive range of technologies, equipment and know-how to configure and install solutions for pet food manufacturing plants.

GEA technology plays a vital role in the preparation of high-quality ingredients for pet food. Microfiltration and ultrafiltration are used for the purification, fractionation and concentration of essential pet food components and flavorings from meat and plant extracts. Nanofiltration is sometimes incorporated to achieve better separation and concentration of key ingredients. The integration of reverse osmosis and evaporation provides an energy efficient, optimal dewatering step to prepare purified ingredients for economical spray drying. 

Manufacturers need to create ingredients of high quality with specific flavor characteristics. To meet these requirements our spray dryers and FILTERMAT® dryers are designed to operate at low temperatures, with a wide range of products, even those containing high concentrations of oils and hydrolyzed proteins, while preventing product deterioration during processing. GEA spray dryers produce powders that are optimized for extruded or pelletized products.

Whether you need an automated meat preparation line, or a single machine that offers flexibility and versatility in batch production, GEA has the technology to help you. We have dedicated equipment for grinding, mixing, batching and handling. And equipment that combines cutting, mixing and emulsifying in one. This is complemented by automation and packaging solutions in line with the latest retail trends. 

The deep knowledge of technologies and processes learned from the world of food combined with the trend of humanization that is spreading in the world of pet food has led our technicians to the development of cooker extruders able to produce products with the highest levels of digestibility and nutrition. Our cooker-extruders combine the delicacy of cooking in a vaporization tank with the power and sanitization of the heat treatment of the extrusion, allowing us to obtain products that meet the most stringent quality requirement. 

We design and manufacture tailor-made extrusion lines for the production of any kind of dry pet food such as kibbles, pillows and various kind of treats. Our flexibility and knowledge of technology allows us to offer machines with high production capacity, solid and durable and able to adapt to any new product development or market need.

GEA scope of supply includes processing solutions for a variety of pet food products including freeze dried raw meat, cooked meat, kibbles, snacks and treats. The freeze-drying technology for raw pet foods allows them to keep their original properties, texture and uncooked appearance. 

GEA’s RAY® technology is a highly efficient and economical batch freeze drying process. It has negligible power loss (less than 0.1%), low energy consumption, uniform drying, high sublimation capacities and a modular design. Small RAY® cabinets can be de-iced in just 10 minutes whereas larger units benefit from the GEA’s Continuous De-Icing System (CDI) to further reduce downtime.

Packaging plays a critical role in the distribution, preservation and presentation of pet food. Differentiating your product on the shelf can be as important as the product’s taste itself. GEA offers thermoforming equipment and vertical form fill and seal equipment that helps you meet today’s operational challenges such as variety, process flexibility, uptime, reducing the cost per kilogram and per pack, food safety and the environment.

Whether you need a single machine to boost existing line performance or a complete solution for a new factory, GEA is the right partner for you.