Pet Food Extrusion Line — Trial Batches Produced for Specialty Pet Treat Manufacturer in South Korea

Trial production has begun on a 1 t/h pet food extrusion line installed at a specialty pet treat manufacturer’s facility in South Korea, with the first test batches produced this week showing promising initial results according to the buyer’s quality team.

This particular line is somewhat smaller and more specialized than RICHI’s typical pet food orders — the buyer focuses on premium dental chew treats and semi-moist treats rather than standard kibble, which changes both the formula and the extrusion process parameters considerably.

The formula for the dental chew line includes a higher starch content than standard dog food (starch gelatinization during extrusion is what gives dental chews their characteristic texture — dense enough to provide chewing resistance but not so hard as to risk tooth damage), along with a protein component (chicken meal in this case) and a small percentage of mint flavoring added post-extrusion via a coating drum.

Equipment includes a single-screw extruder configured for the higher-starch formula (different screw configuration than a standard kibble extruder — the compression profile needs adjustment to achieve proper gelatinization without over-expanding the product, since dental chews should be dense rather than puffy), a drying oven, and the flavor coating drum mentioned above.

During trial batches this week, the team tested several screw speed and temperature combinations — the buyer’s R&D staff worked alongside RICHI’s commissioning engineer to dial in a profile that produces the target texture, described by the buyer as needing to be “firm enough to resist immediate breakage but with internal density that allows gradual wear during chewing.”

Results from the third trial batch were closest to target, according to initial feedback, though the buyer plans several more rounds of texture testing — including actual dog chewing trials with test animals — before finalizing production parameters. RICHI’s engineer remains available remotely for further parameter consultation as testing continues over the coming weeks.