petfood pro 3/2022

INGREDIENTS
Figure 3: High-end equipment meets modern fiber technology
ARBOCEL® is stable even at extreme pH
values and high temperatures. Due to
its enrichment in dry feed, ARBOCEL®
is also suitable as a natural caloriefree
filler, e.g. for diet products, and
can help to reduce an animal's weight.
ARBOCEL® prevents oiling out and also
leads to faster and more uniform drying
during feed production. In semi-moist
feeds, ARBOCEL® improves water and fat
binding as well as microbiological stability
and enhances the nutritional value of
the end product. ARBOCEL® also fulfils
a variety of positive functions in snacks
as a calorie-free raw fiber concentrate. It
provides a stable texture and prevents a
baked product, such as a dog snack, from
breaking too easily. It can also improve an
animal's dental health.
Natural products for the future
Rettenmaier sets trends in modern
animal nutrition with its functional plant
fibers. The special fibers help in the
development of vegan meat alternatives,
they give the substitute products the right
consistency and the desired structure.
Also in raw feeding, the food becomes
firmer and more comfortable to handle
due to the fibers, and it can also prevent
diarrhoea in dogs. Finally, the use of plant
fibers can also make the production
processes more sustainable; for example,
the drying time in the production of
dried food can be reduced by 50%. And
sometimes Rettenmaier's fiber products
are even ahead of their time. For example,
the pure cellulose fiber ARBOCEL® FIF 400
was already developed in 2020. It has a
white color, is odorless and tasteless and
can also be used in the premium sector,
for example for preparing light sauces.
For a long time, this was produced with
the white pigment titanium oxide until
this substance was finally banned as an
additive in food in February 2022. That's
when ARBOCEL® FIF 400 finally came into
use as a much healthier colorant.
Tailored solutions to the
customer's needs
Rettenmaier operates its own pilot
technical center for the development
of recipes with functional plant fiber
concentrates. Here, Torsten Trampe,
Head of Technical Application, and Cora
Weippert, Application Manager Pet
Food, work on developing the specific
properties of various raw materials and
on optimizing recipes and processes.
The results are scientifically sound. With
empirical research and applicationoriented
development in its own
laboratories, Rettenmaier offers its
partners a special service: technical
know-how, market knowledge and
suggestions to turn good ideas into
produceable products and bring them
faster to market. "The right product
is individually put together for each
customer," explains Torsten Trampe. "Our
customers come with a raw material, a
food mix, an idea or with a problem, e.g.
that a dog snack breaks too easily". For
example, if the customer comes in with a
fiber, the first step is to observe what this
fiber can do in the first place and then
determine its functionality. Rettenmaier
then makes a recommendation and -
together with the customer - tailor-made
solutions are developed to improve
recipes and processes. During joint
product development, specific recipes
are developed and the product is put
together according to the requirements.
No two fiber products are alike, because
each product is individually tailored to
the customer's needs. For this purpose,
special tests are carried out on site on
behalf of the customer. These tests are
usually free of charge. In the technical
competence center, a small-scale test
run can be carried out quickly and easily.
Up to three such trials are possible per
month.
With their extensive expertise from the
various fields and the specific JRS plant
fiber technology, Rettenmaier helps to
solve the customer's problems with the
use of natural fibers and also supports
smaller companies and start-ups in
tackling complex tasks. "Rettenmaier
helps to design trend products when
something reaches its technological
limits and brings in their expertise from
all areas," says Torsten Trampe. "That is
really unique in the world." Since raw
materials for pet food are also hard to
come by globally, existing recipes are
no longer as easy to implement with
the available ingredients. This creates a
higher awareness of fiber quality. "In order
to offer pet food products to consumers
in the usual quality and availability
in the future, pet food suppliers and
manufacturers will have to cooperate
more intensively in the area of research
and development," Trampe adds.
Technology & Marketing
For more information
www.jrspetfood.com
16
Technology & Marketing