Next-gen dsm-firmenich pet premix facility opens in US

Equipped with fully automated micro-ingredient additions and fully traceable batch assembly, dsm-firmenich’s pet-only premix facility — NextGen Toganoxie — has opened in Tonganoxie, Kansas, US.

The site’s production capacity spans the pet food industry’s “full spectrum of demand,” from basic nutrition to sophisticated functional formulations that are “on-par with human supplements.”

The facility blends dsm-firmenich’s own specialty ingredients with those sourced from third parties, offering customers formulation flexibility for the markets of US, Canada, and Mexico.

“Just as pet parents go to extraordinary lengths to ensure their companions receive only the best, we’ve gone the extra mile to ensure that every aspect of our new, strategically located facility reflects the mindfulness, protection, and uncompromising standards they demand and deserve,” says Rishabh Pande, global VP, pet food at dsm-firmenich.

“With complete dedication to pet food, we’re setting a new standard for safety, quality, and the well-being of pets everywhere. Whether you’re developing essential nutrition or premium pet food with added health claims, our team is here to help you exceed expectations.”

Expansion milestone

The expansion milestone follows dsm-firmenich’s launch of its European facility in Haag, Austria, earlier this year, as the company expands its pet food portfolio.

The supplier now has two sites dedicated exclusively to pet food, entirely separate from any animal feed lines. Last year, dsm-firmenich announced it would divest its animal nutrition business to focus on food ingredients and pet nutrition.

NextGen Tonganoxie’s full automation and advanced blending technology precisely integrate high-sensitivity micronutrients into premixes. These include vitamins, carotenoids, omega-3s, trace minerals, vegetable powders, fruit powders, and microbiome solutions.

“Whether manufacturers need standard vitamin premixes for mainstream products or cutting-edge functional blends for premium formulas, NextGen Tonganoxie can cater to all manner of premixes, including therapeutic, premium, maintenance, growth, and functional formulations,” details dsm-firmenich.

Raising safety bar with full automation

At NextGen Tonganoxie, dsm-firmenich emphasizes safety and quality with its Amabox containerized transport system.

Amabox fully automates fully traceable micro-ingredient additions to premixes to remove the risk of human errors, such as adding the wrong component to a premix, which is a common cause of pet food recalls.

The containerized design prevents contamination between production lines while promising precision that’s “faster and more accurate” than manual processes, securing quality, safety, and reliability, according to dsm-firmenich.

The Toganoxie inauguration will also deliver an economic boost to the Animal Health Corridor, with 20 new jobs created to date and around 30 expected once the facility reaches full production.

In recent developments, dsm-firmenich’s Animal Nutrition & Health division paired up with Allix, a feed formulation software provider, developed by A-Systems, to measure and manage the environmental footprint of animal feed production.

Earlier this month, dsm-firmenich inaugurated its Van Marken Food Innovation Center in Delft, the Netherlands, as the headquarters of its more than €3 billion (US$3.53 billion) Taste, Texture & Health business unit. The facility helps customers develop more delicious, nutritious, and sustainable F&B solutions.