Energy-efficient pet food drying technology

Since 1991, HARTER has been developing and manufacturing energy-efficient drying systems for industrial applications. With its proprietary Airgenex® heat pump technology, the company offers a particularly gentle and economical solution for drying processes in the pet food industry.

The Airgenex® process is based on condensation drying using a heat pump within a completely closed air circulation system. During the process, moisture is continuously removed from the drying air while the energy contained in the process air is largely recovered and reused within the system. This technology makes the drying process independent of ambient air conditions and climate fluctuations, ensuring stable and reproducible production conditions at all times.

One of the key advantages of the Airgenex® technology is the low and product-friendly drying temperature. Typical drying temperatures range between approximately 30 °C and 75 °C, allowing sensitive raw materials to be processed particularly gently. As a result, nutrients, proteins, aromas and the natural structure of the products are largely preserved – an important factor in the production of high-quality pet food.

The precisely controlled airflow within the drying system ensures uniform air distribution across the product, resulting in consistent and homogeneous drying results. At the same time, the final moisture content can be accurately controlled and reproduced, which is essential for consistent product quality and reliable process control.

HARTER drying systems can be flexibly adapted to different production requirements. Depending on the product and production concept, both batch processes – for example using tray dryers – and continuous drying systems such as belt dryers are available. This allows a wide range of pet food products to be efficiently dried, including meat pieces, chew snacks, plant-based ingredients, insect protein and other high-value components used in pet food production.

In addition to high product quality, energy efficiency plays a key role. By using heat pump technology and consistently recovering process energy, energy savings of up to 75% can be achieved compared to conventional drying systems. At the same time, CO₂ emissions are significantly reduced, making the technology a sustainable solution for modern production processes.

With more than 35 years of experience in industrial drying, HARTER supports its customers from initial process analysis and pilot trials in its in-house test center through to the design and integration of customized drying solutions into existing production lines.

Harter GmbH
info@harter-gmbh.de
www.harter-gmbh.de

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