Cat litter packaging plant

Cat litter packaging and turnkey facilities meet the need to adapt to an ever-expanding market.

The cat litter industry is becoming increasingly competitive due to the growing focus on the hygiene of domestic environments and the prevalence of pets.

In this context, the adoption of modern, reliable and high-productivity packaging solutions proves to be strategic.

MF TECNO, which specializes in the design and manufacture of complete packaging systems, is the ideal partner to meet the challenges of this market.

We analyze below a concrete example of a turnkey plant built for cat litter packaging.

Growth of the cat litter market

According to research by Grand View Research, the cat litter market will continue to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% in the coming years. This increase is mainly due to two factors:

• Increasing pet population, especially cats in urban areas.
• Evolving consumer needs, which are increasingly oriented toward products that are hygienic, convenient to use, and environmentally friendly.

Data reflecting consumers' increasing search for practical, hygienic and sustainable solutions.

Manufacturers thus find themselves in the need to innovate their production processes and adopted technologies, seeking to improve their versatility, productivity and scalability.

Specificity of the project

The case we analyze features a bedding company that wanted to increase its production capacity and manage two different sizes. A small one up to 3.5 kg and a medium one up to 9 kg.

The plant was designed to handle square-bottom packages with side handles, a particularly suitable choice for transport and storage. The solution implemented by MF TECNO includes all stages of the process:

• Product packaging;
• Bundle formation;
• Automatic palletizing;
• Final pallet wrapping.

With productions up to 1200 bags/hour.

Machinery involved

The entire plant integrates machines designed and manufactured in-house by MF TECNO. Each machine was selected and configured to meet the specific needs of the customer in terms of format, speed, and package type.

The choice of package type and the high productivity required steered toward the selection of the following machines:

• SBS bagging machine
• V Bundler
• 6-column palletizer
• MF WRAP 60 rotary arm wrapper

1. SBS bagging machine

The SBS 1200 bagging machine is the heart of the packaging line. It is designed for forming square bottom bags up to 15 kg. Its main strengths include:

• High dosing accuracy;
• Speed up to 1200 kg/hour;
• Compatibility with secondary packaging systems;
• Wide range of customization possibilities: from inserting folders to different closing systems.

The touch screen panel provides an intuitive operator interface, while the self-diagnostic system ensures a high level of operational reliability.

2. MF-V Shrinkwrapper

The MF-V shrink wrapper is designed to pack square-bottom bags, bricks and cartons in the vertical position with shrink film.

 The vertically arranged bags are wrapped in multipacks by a machine made entirely of stainless steel, an ideal choice for dusty or humid environments.

Key features:

• Production up to 10 bundles/minute;
• Format flexibility;
• Reliability and ease of maintenance.

3. 6-Column Palletizer

To support the high packing speeds, a top-loading palletizer with 6 columns was installed, capable of achieving:

• 1200 bags/hour in single grip;
• 2000 bags/hour in double grip.

The use of brushless motors, side compactors, and a reel-to-reel interlayer system enables the formation of stable and compact pallets.

In fact, bags can be partially overlapped, either head-on or sideways, and can be pressed both vertically and horizontally.

The palletizing scheme is controlled by a state-of-the-art PLC panel.

There are also number of accident-prevention guards.

4. MF WRAP 60 wrapper

Completing the line is the MF WRAP 60 automatic rotary arm wrapper, ideal for heavy loads up to 2000 kg. This machine ensures:

- Maximum pallet stability during handling;

- Adaptability to new or existing palletizing lines;

- Reduction of final packing time.

Advantages of an MF TECNO turnkey system.

An integrated project such as the one described offers many advantages:

• Single point of contact

 The entire line is designed, manufactured, installed, and tested by a single supplier. This reduces management complexity and allows for more effective communication along all phases of the project.

• Reduced downtime

Full automation enables continuous production with minimal need for manual intervention.

• Centralized management

All machines are connected by a centralized management system, which enables real-time monitoring and optimization of the production cycle. This leads to reduced downtime and increased efficiency.

• Tailor-made customization

Each plant is custom built, taking into account product specifications, plant layout and production goals. The high degree of design flexibility is one of the hallmarks of MF TECNO's approach.

• Space optimization

MF TECNO solutions are designed to fit perfectly into the customer's production environment, making the most of every available square meter.

Conclusion

Cat litter packaging today requires advanced technological solutions that can combine productivity, flexibility and attention to detail.

Cat litter packaging is no longer a mere ancillary step, but a strategic component of production.

Companies that invest in automated, flexible and technologically advanced plants are able to meet the demands of an increasingly demanding market.

With a turnkey plant consisting of reliable and interconnected machinery, it is possible to meet the challenges of the market with confidence and competitiveness.