This is a project regarding a pet food extrusion machine in Spain. A veterinary pet food manufacturer in Catalonia, Spain, near Barcelona, was producing prescription diets for dogs with specific health conditions. Their products included renal support (low phosphorus), weight management (high fiber, low fat), and diabetic control (low glycemic index).
This is a project regarding a pet food extrusion machine in Spain. A veterinary pet food manufacturer in Catalonia, Spain, near Barcelona, was producing prescription diets for dogs with specific health conditions. Their products included renal support (low phosphorus), weight management (high fiber, low fat), and diabetic control (low glycemic index).
The challenge was precision. Each recipe had tight tolerances – protein within ±1%, fat within ±0.5%, fiber within ±0.5%. Their existing single-screw extruder couldn't maintain these tolerances batch after batch. They needed a pet food extrusion machine that could deliver consistent, repeatable results.
The production manager explained the situation: "Prescription diets are different from regular pet food. Veterinarians recommend them for sick animals. The nutritional profile must be exact. Our old extruder had too much variation. We needed a twin-screw machine with better mixing and temperature control."
The plant produced 8,000 tons annually of veterinary prescription dog food. They had a 1,200m² facility with a dedicated quality control lab. They decided to replace their aging single-screw extruder with a modern twin-screw machine.
Name:
pet food extruder
Country:
Spain
Date:
2025
Capacity:
1.5-2.0 tons/hour
Model:
SPHS120x2
Main Motor Power:
90kW
Raw Materials:
Egg, rice, potato starch, chicken meal, pea fiber
Pellet diameter:
10mm
From the extruder table, the SPHS120x2 (90kW) was selected. Why this model?
The manufacturer chose the 90kW version because prescription diets are a specialized, lower-volume segment (not mass-market).
Spain has a sophisticated veterinary market. The plant produces:
Renal support diet (low phosphorus):
Weight management diet (high fiber, low fat):
Diabetic control diet (low glycemic index):
Kibble sizes: 10mm (medium breed, standard for prescription diets)
Production batch size: 1-2 tons per recipe (small batches, frequent changeovers)
The SPHS120x2 pet food extrusion machine arrived at the Port of Barcelona – Spain's largest Mediterranean port.
Shipping time from Qingdao to Barcelona is about 30-35 days. The machine was packed in a 20-foot container with:
Customs clearance in Barcelona took about 3 days. Total landed cost was about 20% higher than the FOB price.
Installation took two weeks. The old single-screw extruder was removed. The new SPHS120x2 was positioned on a reinforced concrete foundation (250mm thick). The electrical hookup required 400V, 50Hz three-phase (Spanish standard). The 90kW motor required a 200-amp breaker.
The first test run was with renal support formula. The extruder ran at 1.7 tons/hour. Lab analysis showed protein at 14.6% (target 14.5%), phosphorus at 0.35% (target 0.35%). Within tolerance.
After six months of operation, the manufacturer documented the following results:
Before (single-screw extruder):
After (SPHS120x2 twin-screw):
Quality metrics:
Here's what the quality manager said after six months (paraphrased from a conversation, translated from Spanish):
"Prescription diets are our highest-margin products, but they're also the most demanding. Veterinarians test our food. They expect exact nutritional profiles.
The SPHS120x2 changed everything. The twin-screw design gives us consistent mixing batch after batch. Our protein variation dropped from ±3% to ±0.5%. We haven't rejected a batch in four months.
The PLC recipe storage is brilliant. We have 12 prescription formulas stored. Changeover takes 90 minutes – not 4 hours. We can run renal support in the morning, weight management in the afternoon.
Our veterinary customers have noticed the difference. They trust our food because it's consistent. We've signed three new veterinary clinic contracts since installing the machine.
Would I recommend this machine? Yes. For any veterinary pet food manufacturer, precision extrusion is essential. The SPHS120x2 delivers."
Prescription veterinary diets have unique requirements that twin-screw extruders meet better than single-screw:
Nutrient precision: Prescription diets require tight tolerances (protein ±1%, fat ±0.5%, phosphorus ±0.05%). Twin-screw extruders provide superior mixing for uniform nutrient distribution.
Recipe variety: The manufacturer produces 12 different prescription formulas. Twin-screw extruders handle diverse recipes (high fiber, low protein, low fat) without major reconfiguration.
Small batches: Prescription diets are produced in small batches (1-2 tons). Twin-screw extruders start up and shut down cleanly, minimizing waste.
Cleanability: Between-batch cleaning is critical to prevent cross-contamination. The SPHS120x2's modular design allows quick disassembly.
Repeatability: The PLC stores exact parameters for each recipe. Operators recall settings with one touch.
The SPHS120x2 pet food extrusion machine's PLC stores 20 recipes. The manufacturer uses 12:
| Recipe | Key Nutrient | Target | Tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renal support | Phosphorus | 0.35% | ±0.05% |
| Weight management | Fiber | 9% | ±0.5% |
| Diabetic control | Glycemic index | <60 | ±5 |
| Gastrointestinal | Fat | 8% | ±0.5% |
| Hypoallergenic | Novel protein | 22% | ±1% |
| Hepatic | Copper | 5 ppm | ±1 ppm |
Each recipe has its own temperature, moisture, and screw speed settings.
The manufacturer has an on-site quality control lab. Every batch is tested for:
The SPHS120x2 pet food extrusion machine in Spain consistently produces batches within tolerance.
The manufacturer sells directly to veterinary clinics, not pet stores. This requires:
The SPHS120x2 pet food extrusion machine's repeatability has strengthened these relationships.
Between prescription formulas, the manufacturer follows a strict cleaning protocol:
Total changeover: 60-90 minutes with testing.
The SPHS120x2 pet food extrusion machine shipped from Qingdao to Port of Barcelona, Spain.
Shipping time from Qingdao to Barcelona is about 30-35 days. The route goes through the South China Sea, past Singapore, across the Indian Ocean, through the Suez Canal, and across the Mediterranean.
The machine was packed in a 20-foot container. Customs clearance in Barcelona took about 3 days. Total landed cost was about 20% higher than the FOB price.
The truck transport from Barcelona to Catalonia was about 100km – roughly 1.5 hours.
After six months of running the SPHS120x2, the quality manager shared several observations:
Lesson 1: Prescription diets need twin-screw extrusion. Single-screw extruders don't provide the mixing consistency required for tight tolerances.
Lesson 2: PLC recipe storage is essential. 12 formulas, each with different parameters. Operators recall settings with one touch.
Lesson 3: Small batches require quick changeovers. 90-minute changeovers (including cleaning and testing) are acceptable. 4-hour changeovers are not.
Lesson 4: Invest in quality control. The on-site lab costs €50,000 but saves €200,000/year in rejected batches.
Lesson 5: Build trust with veterinary clinics. Consistent product = trusted recommendations = repeat prescriptions.
RICHI provided several services that helped the manufacturer get the SPHS120x2 operational:
For a veterinary pet food manufacturer producing prescription diets, a twin-screw extruder with precise control is essential.
Consider the SPHS120x2 (90kW) if:
Consider the larger SPHS120x2 (110kW) if:
For the Spanish veterinary pet food manufacturer, the SPHS120x2 was the right investment. It reduced batch rejection from 10% to under 1%, improved nutrient consistency, and paid for itself in 12-14 months.
If you're a veterinary pet food manufacturer producing prescription diets, don't compromise on extrusion precision. Sick animals need exact nutrition. Veterinarians test your food. Your reputation depends on consistency.
The SPHS120x2 pet food extrusion machine delivers precise, repeatable results batch after batch. The twin-screw design provides superior mixing. The PLC stores exact parameters for 20 recipes. The result is prescription diets that meet tight tolerances every time.
For veterinary pet food, the math is simple: precision extrusion = consistent nutrition = veterinary trust = repeat prescriptions.
RICHI offers documentation in Spanish, PLC recipe programming, cleaning protocol guidance, and remote support. Contact RICHI Machinery through the website with your prescription formulas, target tolerances, and capacity for a recommendation. Tell them about your veterinary application – they can help you select the right pet food extrusion machine for precise, repeatable prescription diets.
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