A Pet Food Weighing Filling Canning Line Customized for Russian Client

A Customized Pet Food Weighing, Filling & Canning Line with Factory Acceptance Testing

A Russian pet food manufacturer required a reliable and high-accuracy pet food weighing filling canning line for pet food granules with subsequent liquid addition and thermal processing. To ensure the equipment fully met actual production requirements, the customer arranged an on-site factory inspection and factory acceptance test (FAT) at VTOPS Machinery in Zhengzhou, China. The project was customized based on the customer’s real production conditions, with a strong focus on weighing accuracy, stable product feeding, and reliable long-term machine operation. The solution was designed and tested based on actual production conditions to ensure stable performance before shipment.

Client Background & Project Overview

• Industry: Pet food manufacturing
• Product: Pet food granules with liquid addition and thermal processing
• Packaging Requirement: Accurate weighing, stable filling, and continuous operation
• Project Type: Customized weighing, filling, and canning packaging line

* The filled cans are subsequently processed through high-temperature retort sterilization, resulting in a wet pet food product.

The order was placed by Ms. Galina Le, the company owner, in February 2019, following detailed technical discussions and solution evaluation.

On January 22, Ms. Galina Le sent an inquiry to VTOPS seeking a fully automatic weighing and filling solution for metal cans, suitable for both granule and liquid pet food products. And with a requirement that the design speed should be 45-55 cans per minute.
VTOPS provided a complete solution proposal together with a detailed CAD layout design.
Image Description:
As shown of CAD drawing, the overall dimensions: Length: 8650mm; Width: 4200mm; Height: 3700mm.

An Introduction

The weighing and filling production line operates as follows:
metal cans are automatically loaded onto the conveyor, granules of specified weight are dosed into the cans by a multi-head weigher, liquid ingredients are filled by a 12-nozzle liquid filling machine, and the cans are then sealed by a high-speed can seaming machine.

The pet food filling production line includes the following main equipment:

• Cans Rotary Unscrambler:
  Automatically sorts and feeds empty cans onto the conveyor in the correct orientation, ensuring a continuous and stable supply of containers for downstream filling operations.
• Multi-Head Weigher:
  Precisely weighs pet food granules to the target weight before filling. This unit ensures high accuracy and repeatability, which is critical for product consistency and quality control.
• Platform:
  Provides a stable working structure for the multi-head weigher and feeding system. It also allows safe access for operation, inspection, and maintenance.
• Control System for Multi-Head Weigher:
  Coordinates weighing parameters, discharge timing, and ommunication with downstream equipment. This system ensures synchronized operation across the entire production line.
• Z style feeding machine:
  Continuously conveys pet food granules from ground level to the multi-head weigher. The gentle conveying design minimizes product damage while maintaining stable feeding.
• Liquid Filling Machine with 12 Nozzles:
  Accurately fills liquid ingredients into the cans after granule dosing. Multiple nozzles enable high filling speed while maintaining consistent filling accuracy.
• High-Speed Cans Seaming Machine:
  Seals the filled cans securely to ensure product integrity and shelf life. The machine is designed for continuous, high-speed operation compatible with the filling line output.

Acceptance Testing

According to Engineer Rogalev Iurii’s requirement, the acceptance testing was divided into three parts:

Part One: Precision Test of Granule Weighing System

Precision test with 10-head weigher weighing 166 grams granules of cat food.
In the one-minute test, altogether 51 filling results were received:
Among others,

• 42 with a filling weight of 203 grams (the container weighing 37 grams and the ‘zero error rate’ was 82.35%;
• 8 with a filling weight of 204 grams (the container weighing 37 grams);
• 1 weighted 202 grams (the container weighing 37 grams) and the error was only 1 gram.

Testing Result: 100% met the client’s requirement.

Part Two: Precision Test of Liquid Filling System

Precison test for 12-nozzles liquid filling machine, using 249 grams liquid.
In a recycling test, 12 cans were filling at the same time, which took 8.56 seconds.
Among others,

• 2 cans weighed 285 grams (the container with a weight of 37 grams);
• 5 cans weighed 286 grams (the container with a weight of 37 grams);
• 3 cans weighed 287 grams (the container with a weight of 37 grams);
• 2 cans weighed 288 grams (the container with a weight of 38 grams).

Testing Result: 100% met the client’s requirement.

Part Three: Integrated Production Line Performance Test

Overall testing (please see video demonstration below).

All test results met the customer’s accuracy and performance requirements, and the system passed factory acceptance testing successfully.

How did they get in touch?

Ms Galina Le found VTOPS through google, and took interest in the machines and filling line solutions after watching videos of VTOPS products on Youtube.

Mr Chang said that the factory had not received Russian clients before, but there were clients from Russia who purchased Vtops machine online. The latest client sent an email to ask about the quality of the machine to one of the previous clients who commended VTOPS product quality and after-sale services.

During their inspection, the engineer nodded his head for several times when he read the final results. The translator said Mr Rogalev Iurii was quite satisfied. Mr Chang added that the client was strict with precision and only a error of 5 grams was allowed.

Zhengzhou Vtops Machinery Co., Ltd is a specialized Design Manufacture since 2001. It designs, develops and manufactures various types of auger fillers and provides customized solutions and superior services.
“Our company is committed to provide all kinds of filling and packing solutions. We have cooperated with clients from pet food industry before and always strive to provide the most suitable solution to meet their requirement”, Mr Chang said.

Perfect After Sales Service

A team of technicians and engineers will go to Russia to help the client with installation, commissioning and staff training. They will leave soon when they obtain their visas.

Related Links:

[1] CAD Drawing of Canning Line for Granule Weighing and Liquid Filling;
[2] Mr Rogalev Iurii visit Vtops Machinery for Pet Food Weighing Filling Canning Line;