DSM, a global purpose-led health and nutrition company, plans to build a next-generation nutritional premix plant in Tonganoxie, Kansas, announced the company and the KC Animal Health Corridor. The new location will supply the pet food industry with high-quality nutritional premixes for use in branded pet food products worldwide. The facility is expected to break ground in July 2023 and be fully operational by early 2025.
“The pet food industry has been looking for a better source for the highest quality, traceable and reliable nutritional ingredients for their products and we are thrilled to be able to deliver for the industry and for ‘pet parents' with this new facility in Tonganoxie,” said DSM Co-CEO, Dimitri de Vreeze. “We appreciate the support of Governor Laura Kelly, the Kansas Department of Commerce, the Leavenworth County Development Corporation, the City of Tonganoxie, Evergy and the Animal Health Corridor in making this state-of-the-art facility a reality.”
The facility, which will create 28 jobs, will be strategically located in the KC Animal Health Corridor, close to many industry-leading pet food manufacturers, reducing supply chain risk and logistics expenses.
“DSM is a welcome addition to Kansas and the Animal Health Corridor,” said Kansas Governor Laura Kelly. “Having another industry leader locate here further enhances the globally recognized animal health ecosystem that is anchored in Kansas.”
The Kansas facility will feature precision micro-batching capabilities, allowing for precise automated micro-addition of numerous ingredients to premixes in a fully traceable manner. This will support the use of a broader range of DSM and third-party ingredients, allowing the company to create more inclusive and unique premix offerings to meet the evolving needs of the pet food industry.
The increased process automation of the state-of-the-art plant will allow for greater traceability, accuracy and automated weight verification, as each batch moves in its own containerized transport system in an automated manner through the facility. This will allow DSM to provide the speed and accuracy in high demand by customers in the pet food industry.
“With the highest concentration of animal health assets in the world, the Kansas City region is home to a robust industry network, as well as abundant manufacturing and distribution resources,” said Kimberly Young, president of the KC Animal Health Corridor. “The region continues to attract top companies in the industry, and we’re proud that DSM has selected the corridor for this state-of-the-art, innovative new facility.”
In addition to meeting all food safety requirements and exceeding current standards for pet food production, the facility is designed with sustainability in mind. The plant’s automated mixing vessels will reduce waste by decreasing flushes necessary for sequencing and will operate on 100% renewable electricity, consistent with all DSM facilities in North America.
To learn more about the new facility’s industry-leading capabilities and view additional renderings, please visit the DSM at booth 1306 at the Petfood Forum, May 1-3, in Kansas City, Missouri.
