Hill’s Pet Nutrition has opened what the company calls a “smart factory” in Tonganoxie, Kansas.
“It’s only appropriate that as we celebrate Hill’s 75th anniversary, we are able to unveil the next chapter of smart manufacturing innovation in the pet food industry,” said John Hazlin, president and CEO of Hill’s Pet Nutrition.
Among the features of the 365,000-square-foot plant are:
- An artificial intelligence-powered digital food-safety vigilance system.
- Automation and robotic devices.
- Enhanced food-safety systems.
“The production process is an entirely enclosed system — from ingredient mixing to cooking and container filling — designed to prevent food exposure to environmental contaminants,” said Chad Sharp, the plant’s director of manufacturing.
The plant will produce more than 170 varieties of wet pet food, including the renal formula Prescription Diet k/d.
“The sophistication and precision of the Tonganoxie plant will enable greater innovation in our product formulations and, when you marry our industry-leading science with our unrivaled team and the best manufacturing technology, that is an unbeatable combination,” said Noel Wallace, the president and CEO of Hill’s parent company, Colgate-Palmolive.
The plant is the first Colgate-Palmolive site to achieve LEED Gold certification, partly because the water reclamation system reduces usage by treating and recycling wastewater on-site.
The project created more than 100 jobs in Leavenworth County, Kansas.