Pet food packaging machines

Pet food end-of-line packaging

Since its creation, JYGA has seen the pet food market evolve from paper bags towards increasingly diverse flexible packs. More recently, growing environmental expectations have accelerated the use of more eco-designed packaging and more responsible materials.

To keep pace with regular changes in pet food packaging, manufacturers need to modernise their production equipment, particularly their end-of-line packaging systems.

To meet this need, JYGA develops increasingly flexible and scalable end-of-line packaging machinery. This flexibility is a major advantage in a fast-changing market. JYGA equipment can handle and load stand-up pouches, pouches, pet food bags and boxes, as well as provide cartoning, case packing and robotic palletising.

JYGA supplies complete pet food end-of-line packaging systems and works with trusted partners to integrate vision, labelling and traceability solutions, including serialisation.

Loading and unloading stand-up pouches and pouches

For pet food end-of-line infeed, JYGA can automate the handling of pouches and stand-up pouches:

• Receive trays/racks loaded with stand-up pouches or pouches
• Destack full trays/racks
• Unload stand-up pouches and pouches onto an existing line or towards a JYGA case packer
• Stack empty racks

JYGA manages product flows and communication between all equipment across the end-of-line packaging system.

Case packing into shelf-ready cases, RSC cases and wrap-around cases

With case packing expertise dating back to the company’s creation, JYGA provides solutions adapted to each production environment.

JYGA wrap-around case packers are compact all-in-one machines. Within a single cell, the machine forms the case, loads the products, then closes and discharges the filled case.

JYGA pet food case packers can handle pouches, stand-up pouches and kibble bags in shelf-ready cases. Upstream, JYGA can integrate a tray former to form trays and, where required, a lid applicator to close them.

JYGA also provides pet food case packing solutions for RSC cases. Pre-formed cases can arrive from upstream equipment before pouches, stand-up pouches or bags are loaded automatically. The cases are then closed and discharged.

Pet food product palletising

Robotic palletising is a long-established JYGA capability. From single-line to multi-line palletising, JYGA palletisers provide the flexibility required at the end of pet food lines. Each robot is configured for the products it handles.

The end-of-arm tool, developed entirely by JYGA, can palletise complete layers using advanced grippers. JYGA palletising cells manage pallets, including destacking/stacking, and layer pads. Stretch wrapping and labelling can also be integrated.

For pallet pattern creation, JYGA provides a simple ergonomic solution. Operators access JY’TOOL directly from the machine control panel to create and modify pallet patterns independently. Production can then be launched and monitored in real time from the HMI.

Pet food packaging: a kibble pouch case packing application

A leading dry pet food manufacturer selected JYGA to automate its production lines. The company required an automatic case packing system for stand-up pouches of kibble, representing a major step in the automation of its pet food packaging plant.

The robotic cell specialises in top-load case packing into RSC cases and handles twelve different formats. Pouches arrive aligned, are transferred accurately onto a conveyor and grouped into batches. Each stage is coordinated to ensure reliable and consistent packaging.

A key part of the installation is the loading station, where cases are positioned and filled by the robot. The robotic system uses vision data to pick the pouches accurately and place them into the required case pattern.

The case packer significantly improves the pet food production process by combining higher automation with consistent, reliable quality. Through this application, JYGA provides a solution tailored to the specific requirements of pet food manufacturing.