Pet food company, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, has opened a new manufacturing plant in Tonganoxie, Kan., in celebration of their 75th anniversary.

Located on more than 80 acres, the 365,000-square foot facility looks to increase the company’s production capacity for their canned pet food products with its “smart” design, which includes the following features:

• Artificial intelligence (AI) to power a digital food safetyvigilance system
• Automation and robotic devices
• Enhanced food safety systems
• End-to-end digital process/safety monitoring

“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,” says John Hazlin, president and CEO of Hill’s Pet Nutrition. “The Hill’s Tonganoxie plant helps set the stage for the continued growth of our science-led nutrition, increasing our capacity and our ability to better serve the evolving needs of pets and pet owners in the United States and around the world.”

The new technology and processes are aimed to help the company shorten their production cycle as well as innovate new formats and products.

“Hill’s will utilize technology to work alongside Hill’s staff and a new state-of-the-art Mission Control Center to provide unprecedented visibility and monitoring through every aspect of pet food making from ingredient intake to final packaging,” says Chad Sharp, director of manufacturing for the Tonganoxie plant. “The production process is an entirely “enclosed system,” from ingredient mixing to cooking and container filling–designed to prevent food exposure to environmental contaminants.”

The “smart” plant has created more than 100 jobs.

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