Application
Routing Powder to Multiple Destinations in Pet Food
Answer in brief
Pet food lines route finished kibble to several packers and premixes to several mixers, and the junction sees both.
Fat builds up where the stream changes direction, and that build-up is both a hygiene finding and a flow problem.
- Design the junction to be opened and cleaned.
- Keep the routing gentle for coated kibble.
- Separate medicated and non-medicated routes clearly.
Reviewed October 21, 2026 · Updated October 21, 2026
The problem
Coated kibble leaves a fat film at every direction change, and the junction of a diverter is the worst place for it.
Recipe segregation, including medicated feed, depends on the valve doing exactly what the control system believes.
Desired outcome
A junction that sends the full stream to the selected destination, leaves nothing behind for the next one and holds the line pressure while it does so.
Process approach
Removable junction sections and smooth internal geometry make the cleaning interval realistic rather than theoretical.
Gentle transitions protect the kibble, and modest switching speed avoids slamming a column of product against a closing element.
Position feedback and interlocks support the segregation requirements in feed safety plans.
- Junction access for fat cleaning.
- Smooth, radiused transitions for finished product.
- Position feedback tied into the batch record.
Selection factors
- Fat content and the cleaning interval it dictates.
- Breakage limit for finished product.
- Segregation requirements for medicated feed.
- Abrasiveness of mineral premixes.
- Switching frequency and actuator duty.
Common failure modes
- Fat build-up narrowing the junction over a shift
- Kibble broken at the diverter transition
- Medicated and standard routes not positively separated
- Valve position assumed instead of confirmed
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