Reshaping the future of pet food freeze drying
Freeze drying is reshaping the future of premium pet food by offering the ability to deliver safe, nutritious, high-value products without the need for preservatives or heat treatment. To enable you to appeal to both pet owners and retailers, GEA brings together proven, high quality solutions, deep industry knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of customer needs - empowering you to meet the rising demand for minimally processed nutrition at the lowest possible total cost of ownership. Whether you’re creating a new line or scaling up production, we’ll work with you to design a solution that delivers consistency, safety and quality with every batch.
Raw meat
High-protein, nutrient-rich raw meats - such as beef, chicken and turkey - retain their natural integrity and appeal, supporting the raw food movement with added convenience and safety.
Kibbles
Balanced, freeze-dried kibble combines meat, grains and vegetables for an all-in-one meal solution that’s easy to store, transport and portion.
Treats
From biscuits to protein bites, freeze-dried treats maintain their taste and texture while offering extended shelf life and easy portability.
Flexibility that delivers in pet food manufacturing
Freeze drying is ideal for a wide range of pet foods and treats, from high-meat raw products like chicken, beef and turkey - whether natural, minced or formed - to kibble blends containing 5-15% meat alongside vegetables, grains and essential nutrients. It’s equally effective for snacks like biscuits and mixers, as well as high-protein treats such as bars. This flexibility allows manufacturers to deliver nutritious, shelf-stable and convenient products that meet the expectations of today’s pet owners.
The popularity of Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (BARF) continues to rise, and pet owners are drawn to its reported benefits, such as improved digestion, better dental health, shinier coats and fewer allergies. Raw foods, however, can be messy, inconvenient and difficult to store. Freeze drying solves these challenges. The process retains the raw nutritional value of ingredients while improving shelf life and ease of handling. While the product remains raw, it is lightweight, portable and easy to rehydrate - which is perfect for time-poor owners with busy lifestyles.Why freeze drying?
Freeze-dried pet food delivers wide-ranging benefits:
- Enables clean-label formulations with no preservatives
- Long shelf life without refrigeration
- Lightweight and easy to store, ship and display
- Consistent product quality with minimal nutrient loss
- Supports premium product positioning and higher margins
- Easier to handle and package compared to frozen raw food
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How freeze drying of pet food works
Want to see the science behind freeze drying in action? Watch our video to explore how moisture is removed under vacuum, allowing raw pet food to retain nutrients, flavor and shelf life without cooking or additives.
干燥的宠物食品多年来一直很受欢迎，然而，冷冻干燥也越来越被视为高端市场的可行选择。在极端真空条件下（低至 3-5%），冷冻干燥可以去除产品中几乎所有的水分。与其他干燥食品相比，该技术显著延长了保质期并允许在非常低的温度下干燥，从而使制造商能够生产可以在室温下不开封地储存多年而不会变质的新产品。由于产品只暴露在低温下，因此冷冻干燥技术可保留更多的食物营养特性，以提供更健康的产品。
冻干生肉宠物食品
生肉宠物食品（符合生物天性的生骨肉饮食(BARF)）也越来越受欢迎。用户报告说给宠物喂养生食有很多好处，包括：改善消化、改善牙齿健康、更容易控制体重、更有光泽的皮毛、减少过敏、增强免疫系统和减少行为问题。
尽管许多人可以接受生食的好处，但处理和储存生食的不便可能会让一些宠物主人望而却步。然而，将食物冷冻干燥可以是一种快速而简单的替代方式。干燥过程不烹饪或热处理食物，所以它仍然是生的。只需简单地加水即可使该产品恢复原状。这使得零售商和消费者可以更轻松地处理食品，对于带着宠物旅行的主人特别有用。更重要的是，大多数宠物都喜欢冻干生食的味道，即使是挑食的宠物。
冻干宠物食品类型
可以冷冻干燥狗和猫的各种食物和零食。其中包括：生鸡肉、牛肉、火鸡等（95% 的肉，天然或绞肉和成型）、熟肉制品、颗粒干粮、零食 - 例如饼干和混合物，以及特殊零食，包括蛋白质棒。颗粒干粮通常是 5-15% 的肉类与蔬菜、谷类、谷物和相关的维生素和矿物质。
GEA 技术、中试设备和测试设备
GEA 提供用于制备宠物食品的设备和完整的生产线，包括切割、混合、乳化和成型、冷冻和冷冻干燥，以及包装。GEA 的专有技术可帮助客户开发具有最大灵活性和对环境影响最小的高效、可持续发展、高质量的制造系统。
RAY® 中试设备为制造商提供了广泛的测试设备，用于开发新产品和完善的冷冻干燥工艺。这些技术允许在将工艺无缝扩大到工业级生产之前，收集准确的数据并优化重要的工艺参数。GEA 的工程师和技术人员在整个测试过程中与客户密切合作，帮助他们将新产品快速推向市场并实现盈利。
Webinar
Unleash the potential of freeze-dried pet food
Freeze drying solutions tailored for pet food
From pilot projects to full-scale production, GEA offers a portfolio of freeze drying systems tailored to meet your product and capacity requirements. With process expertise, advanced automation and hygienic design, we help you go to market with confidence.
RAY® Pilot Plant
A compact and flexible system ideal for product development, testing and small-scale production. Perfect for innovation and recipe refinement.
RAY® Freeze Dryer
Reliable batch technology for consistent, high-throughput performance. Designed for versatility and uniform results across trays.
RAY® Plus Freeze Dryer
Our most advanced industrial system, combining energy efficiency, high yield and automation. Engineered for premium pet food at scale.
Test Center
Partner with our experts at the GEA Test Center to simulate processes, validate formulations and de-risk full-scale investments.
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GEA RAY® rental freeze dryers
We offer rental pilot equipment for on-site development, with expert engineers ensuring seamless startup and staff training.
