Machines for the pet food sector are now advanced production systems that combine high efficiency with a strong focus on product quality and safety. The dog and cat food market continues to grow dynamically. According to Grand View Research, its value exceeded USD 128 billion in 2025, and forecasts indicate growth to more than USD 190 billion in the coming years, representing an average annual growth rate of around 5–6%. In practice, this means continued investment by manufacturers in modern processing lines and more efficient pet food production machinery.
Customers increasingly expect the composition and quality of these products to be closer to those of human food. This means that pet food production machines must also meet high hygiene requirements and ensure consistent, controlled raw material processing.
A modern pet food production process includes several stages: raw material size reduction, mixing, thermal processing, forming, drying and packaging. In dry pet food production, a key role is played by a line that uses extruders, dryers, and fat-coating systems. Wet pet food production, in turn, requires the use of bowl cutters, mixers, fillers and sterilisation systems. In practice, these are often the same types of machines that are also used in meat and poultry processing plants.
The role of pet food production lines continues to grow, as they enable meat raw materials, fats, and other protein components to be processed efficiently and consistently. This allows manufacturers to develop recipes with a high meat content while maintaining better control over product quality and production costs.
The pet food machinery market – current situation, solutions and trends
The European pet food market is one of the fastest-growing segments of the food industry. According to FEDIAF, the value of the European pet food market exceeded approximately EUR 29.3 billion, while annual growth remains around 9%. At the same time, Europe has more than 400 pet food companies and over 500 production sites, clearly demonstrating the sector’s scale and momentum.
The growing demand for premium and super-premium pet food directly impacts the development of production technologies. Manufacturers now need more advanced machines that enable precise ingredient dosing, temperature control and better management of process parameters. At the same time, processing lines are designed to support recipes with varying formulations, including fresh meat, alternative protein sources and functional ingredients.
At present, the following solutions are of particular importance:
- complete technological lines for dog food production,
- high-performance pet food processing machines,
- solutions that support lower electricity and gas consumption,
- technologies that enable the production of feed with a high content of fresh meat.
More and more plants are investing in modern dog food production lines that enable the production of kibble with a stable structure and consistent parameters.
Demand is also growing for efficient cat food production machines, especially in the wet food segment, packed in trays and pouches.
A clear trend in the pet food sector is the development of alternative protein sources and a stronger focus on energy efficiency. For this reason, modern machines are designed to simplify cleaning, reduce energy consumption, and enable the line to adapt more quickly to new recipes.
What machines are used in the pet food industry?
The pet food industry requires machinery covering the entire process – from raw material preparation to packaging of the finished product. The core includes size reduction and mixing equipment, thermal processing systems such as extruders for dry food and sterilisers for wet food, dryers, fat-coating systems, as well as packaging and inspection machines. A properly selected processing line helps maintain product safety, shelf life and consistent quality.
New and used pet food machines from Eryfood
Eryfood offers new and used machines for pet food production. The company serves plants across Europe. The offer includes both standalone machines and complete pet food production lines.
Production and processing machines
Modern pet food production requires efficient and properly selected equipment. This group of machines is responsible for the quality, consistency and safety of the finished product. The offer includes, among others:
- production lines – integrated solutions for automated production of pet food and semi-finished products,
- grinders and industrial mills – for grinding raw materials and preparing components,
- mixers for meat and raw materials – equipment for even mixing of ingredients,
- bowl cutters – for processing and homogenising, especially wet pet food components,
- vacuum tumblers – for preparing mass before further processing,
- stuffers and vacuum fillers – for portioning raw materials or semi-finished products during production,
- separators – for separating selected raw material fractions,
- forming machines – for giving products the required shape, such as granules or other formats,
- skinning machines – auxiliary equipment used for raw material preparation in selected plants.
Packaging and final processing machines
Properly selected packaging plays an important role in pet food shelf life and safety. At this stage, the product is prepared for distribution in a finished and protected form. The ERY Food Machinery offer includes, among others:
- vacuum packers and tray sealers – systems for packing finished product in bags, trays or films,
- thermoforming machines – for forming packaging and sealing it tightly,
- weighing and labelling systems – equipment for weighing, portioning and marking packs,
- metal detectors and inspection systems – equipment supporting product safety and compliance with quality requirements.
When does it make sense to choose used pet food production machines from Eryfood?
The choice between a new and a used machine depends primarily on budget, investment schedule and development plans. New pet food production machines offer access to newer technological solutions, lower energy consumption and a manufacturer’s warranty. This is a solution often chosen by companies building a new plant or developing a new premium brand.
Used pet food production machines, on the other hand, may be a way to launch production faster with lower initial capital requirements. Eryfood offers:
- used dog food production machines,
- used cat food production machines,
- complete used pet food processing machines.
The machines offered are verified for further operation in production plants. Many of them have been refurbished and remain in very good technical condition. Eryfood works with verified supply sources and considers the availability of suitable spare parts, which supports the continued operation of the equipment.
If you are looking for machinery for the food industry and the pet food sector, contact us – we will help select the right solution and prepare an offer tailored to the specifics of your production.
Pet food machine buyback at Eryfood
Eryfood also purchases used machines from the pet food sector. Companies that are modernising their machine park, replacing a processing line or closing production can sell:
- pet food production machines,
- complete dog or cat food production lines,
- individual machines such as mixers, grinders, separators or packaging machines.
The buyback process includes valuation, offer assessment and organisation of machine collection. Eryfood considers offers for operational machines regardless of manufacturer or year of production. Terms of cooperation are agreed individually, taking into account the machine’s technical condition and the scope of the transaction.
FAQ
The basis of dry pet food production is a processing line comprising several key machines. The most important element is the extruder, which forms kibble from the prepared raw material mix. After extrusion, the product is sent to the dryer, where excess moisture is removed and the structure of the finished feed is stabilised. The next stage is the dosing of additives such as fats, flavours and vitamins, and at the end of the process, weighing and packaging systems are used. Such a line can also be expanded step by step, for example, with internal transport elements, raw material storage or more advanced packaging systems.
Used pet food production machines can be a safe and practical alternative to new equipment, provided their technical condition has been properly verified. When selecting a specific model, it is worth checking the supplier, the scope of technical inspection, any refurbishment carried out and the suitability of the machine for the intended application. Eryfood offers equipment that is verified for further use in pet food processes.
Yes, used pet food production machines can provide sufficient performance, provided they are in good technical condition and have been operated correctly. What matters most is not the age of the machine itself, but its condition, service history and the scope of inspections and upgrades carried out. When assessing such a machine, it is worth paying attention to actual throughput, component wear, spare parts availability and serviceability. Eryfood helps assess whether a given machine will be suitable for the planned production scale and the specific process.
In many cases, an existing pet food production line can be expanded step by step. It is possible to add new machines, packaging systems or automation elements, provided that the line design, available space and compatibility with the existing infrastructure allow it. Eryfood supports plants in assessing whether expanding an existing line will be more cost-effective than replacing selected machines or whole sections of the process.
Yes, properly selected machines can be used for the production of dog and cat food, including projects focused on high-quality and consistent product performance. However, premium positioning is not determined by the machine alone, but also by recipe, raw material quality and a properly managed process. The Eryfood offer includes machines used in pet food production, including industrial grinders, mixers and packaging systems that support stable product structure and process consistency.
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