Last Wednesday afternoon, I was debugging the workshop and explaining the equipment to the new intern Xiao Zhou, when I suddenly received a call from an old customer, Mr. Zhang: "Mr. Wang, can your pet food packaging machine that can simultaneously hold meat particles, freeze-dried food, and vitamin tablets add a fish oil capsule compartment? My new product development is stuck here!" Hearing his anxious tone, I smiled and put the wrench on the tool table: "Your demand hits the mark, we have just upgraded the multi-group proportioning technology, not to mention four groups of materials, we can arrange six groups for you!"
I have been in this business for fifteen years, and I know the pain points of pet food packaging machines best. In the early years, I saw too many manufacturers using "mixed loading" to fool things - pouring materials of different shapes into a hopper, and the packaging bag was either freeze-dried into slag, or the nutritional tablets sank to the bottom. Last year, I visited a certain OEM factory in the north. Their workshop director Lao Zhao pointed to the assembly line and sighed: "This machine packs mixed grains. The error is so large that it can starve dogs and cats!" This really stimulated me. When I returned to the factory, I led the team to immerse myself in the research and development of multi-group proportioning technology.
To talk about the doorway of this technology, the key lies in the six words "dynamic volume compensation". Just like the master in our factory mixes the stuffing, the ratio of flour and minced meat depends on the feel, and our packaging machine relies on intelligent sensing to "feel" the material. For example, the combination of puffed grain and meat floss, which is "one hard and one fluffy", the traditional volume measurement accuracy depends on luck. Now the filling amount is automatically adjusted through pressure feedback, and the error rate is directly suppressed below the industry standard line. Last month, the test report of the East China customer showed that the qualified rate of mixed product bag opening soared to 99%, and their boss was so happy that he sent three WeChat Moments to show off.
You may be curious about how to ensure the integrity of the formula of materials in different forms. This requires us to mention the "flexible packaging module" that we have been working on for half a year. I remember that during the first test, the freeze-dried raw bone meat and probiotic powder did not mix well. Either the freeze-dried meat was crushed or the powder was dusty. Later, Mr. Li from the equipment department found inspiration from the capsule filling machine in the pharmaceutical factory and designed an adjustable diversion channel. Now, let alone meat particles with fish oil, even crispy biscuits with milk powder can be accurately layered like a "sandwich".
The most amazing thing is the adaptability of this system. When customizing equipment for a pet hospital last year, they required that each package must contain 5 functional additives. On the day of commissioning, we demonstrated the "second-cut formula" function on site - from chicken formula to marine fish formula, the packaging machine did not even give a chance to breathe, and directly connected seamlessly. The veterinary doctor in charge of acceptance was leaning on the observation window for half an hour, and finally said: "This accuracy is almost catching up with our prescription drugs!"
However, there are always unexpected challenges in the implementation of technology. At the beginning of this year, a customer in the southwest insisted on using our packaging machine to pack bone-in meat paste. The viscosity of that thing is comparable to sesame paste, and it is mixed with fine bone residue. I and several engineers stayed in the customer's workshop for three days, and we just adjusted the speed curve of the propeller to deal with this "devil material". Now this customer tells everyone: "His machine can even measure 'bone soup', it's amazing!"
Recently, the R&D department is preparing another big move - integrating the visual recognition system into the metering process. Simply put, it is to let the packaging machine "grow eyes" and monitor the material status in real time. For example, if the freeze-dried food is damp and agglomerated, the equipment will automatically extend the crushing time; if the vitamin tablets are found to be defective, the feeding program will be started immediately. Although it is still in the testing stage, several customers who have tried it have already reported: "This function simply cured the obsessive-compulsive disorder of the quality inspector!"
In the final analysis, the upgrade of pet food packaging machines is endless. When I passed by the assembly workshop yesterday, I heard the new college students discussing: "Can our technology be used for baby food packaging?" I interrupted: "As long as the customer dares to think, we dare to make it!" This is not bragging. After all, we have conquered even the most difficult problem of pet picky eating. What else can stump this group of "tech control" who love to compete with machines?
Next time you have a special packaging requirement, please don't hesitate. We always have a notebook next to the coffee machine in our factory. You can be sure that your sudden idea can give birth to the technical upgrade plan for next month!
