KANSAS CITY, MO. — The journey of getting pet food and treats to market is a long and arduous one. While the processor might be given the credit for what’s in the package, it is truly a group effort to get a product from concept to commercialization. Ingredient suppliers, equipment companies, manufacturers and logistics partners are all essential components of the manufacturing supply chain.

As the president of Sabetha, Kan.-based Wenger Group, a manufacturer of extrusion and drying systems used in the production of pet food and treats, Scott Krebs has been helping to bring pet food and treat products to market for his entire career. For more than 30 years Krebs has been working with extrusion processing equipment that’s essential for the safe and effective production of pet food and treats. As an industry partner, Wenger works side-by-side with processors on new product innovation.

During the inaugural Pet Food Processing Exchange Oct. 7 to 8 in Kansas City, hosted by Pet Food Processing magazine and parent company Sosland Publishing, subject matter experts in the areas of product formulation, animal nutrition, data analysis, packaging, food safety, automation and more will share their knowledge of the formulation, production and safety of pet food on-stage.

Scott Krebs, president of Wenger.

| Source: Wenger Group

On Oct. 7, Krebs will take the stage alongside other industry leaders to talk about the “State of the Industry.” His years of experience and expertise from the equipment side of the business will complement the other panelists’ perspectives on the state of the industry today and where it’s headed tomorrow. Other panelists include Amy Patterson, president of Petsource by Scoular; Tom Rychlewski, vice president of Food and Beverage Operations at CRB; and Jeremy Couture, director of Business Development – Pet Specialty Group for Nestlé Purina.

Speaking with Pet Food Processing magazine, Krebs shared his insights on how supplier/processor partnerships are crucial to the future of the pet food and treat industry. 

Pet Food Processing: What are some of the top issues or concerns for the pet food processing industry today?

Krebs: Producers that we talk with are focused on maintaining product quality and operating efficiency, while also evolving to more sustainable methods of production including reducing energy consumption, waste, and carbon footprint. Producers also continue to develop new products to expand their offerings, which could involve new and novel ingredients as well as fresh meat and other inclusions. One consistent aspect from our customers is that they are dedicated to pet nutrition and providing a wide range of foods and treats that are healthy as well as tasty.

PFP: How do industry equipment suppliers, such as Wenger, partner with pet food manufacturers?

Krebs: The most important thing we can do is listen to the needs, wants and desires of our customers.  In most cases, the correct technology exists to accomplish each customer’s goals. But how that technology is configured as a system can — and should — be customized. We understand that an extrusion cooking system is a major capital investment, and so it must meet or exceed the customer’s goals not only for production but also for aspects such as process control, flexibility, uptime and energy optimization.

PFP: What is the importance and value of these supplier/processor partnerships?

Krebs: Every pet food producer we work with has smart, experienced people who know what they want to achieve. The Wenger Group (Wenger, Extru-Tech, Source Technology) and our parent company Marel add value to customers by helping them know the best ways to achieve their goals via extrusion cooking. When producers rely on the process and functional expertise of suppliers, knowing that the suppliers are truly aligned to the producer’s goals (and not just trying to sell equipment), it’s amazing what can be accomplished. Many of today’s premium foods and treats were once just an idea that may have seemed unfeasible to produce in volume. So, in order to meet changing consumer needs, producers and suppliers need to work — and dream — together.

PFP: How do your brands work with processors to share innovation?

Krebs: Over the years, many of our equipment designs, enhancements, and control systems have come about as a direct result of customer requirements. We want customers to be open with us when an existing technology or approach doesn’t meet their need. We enjoy when customers challenge us to achieve a product spec that hasn’t been done before. This constructive challenge can fuel our creativity to uncover new solutions and use new technology in ways we haven’t done before.

PFP: How is industry innovation going to change the future of the pet food industry?

Krebs: Globally, the trends for pet foods will include more variability in ingredient selection, breed-specific diets, increased palatability, increased nutrition, and treats with unique shapes, colors and functional attributes that all add to our companion animal’s life-long wellbeing. To achieve this, production equipment must be more flexible and more precise than ever before. It must accommodate changes in ingredients and recipes easily, and provide operators with real-time analytical awareness.

This is why we believe in the power of AI to enable the next evolution for pet food processing. AI can predict outcomes based on evaluating process data over a long time period. This can be customized for each producer, and for each individual production line. AI will be especially beneficial for extrusion lines, to ensure optimal and repeatable processes which can lead to more consistent quality and reduced operational costs.  

Innovations to meet sustainability goals will also change (and improve) pet food processing. Some of these are already in place such as decarbonization modifications for dryers using high temperature heat pumps.  There are many other innovations on the horizon to achieve customer expectations for reducing energy, waste and emissions.

We support the Industry 4.0 concept of using technology to enable data-based, real-time decision making. We embrace the challenge, and we look forward to working with our customers on these opportunities.

Attendees of Pet Food Processing Exchange can learn more about the state of the pet food and treat industry during Kreb’s presentation and panel discussion during the event. Learn more and register for Pet Food Processing Exchange here.