Hill's Pet Nutrition Opens Smart Factory in Kansas

Hill’s Pet Nutrition, a subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive, has opened a new smart manufacturing plant in Tonganoxie, Kansas.

The 365,000-square-foot facility will include technologies such as AI to power a “digital food safety vigilance system,” as well as robotic devices and end-to-end digital process and safety monitoring tools. 

The new site will help expand its production capabilities, shorten products’ time-to-market,  and pave the way for the continued expansion of its pet food brands, according to the company

"It's only appropriate that as we celebrate Hill's 75th anniversary, we are able to unveil the next chapter of smart manufacturing innovation in the pet food industry," said John Hazlin, Hill's Pet Nutrition CEO. "The Hill's Tonganoxie plant helps set the stage for the continued growth of our science-led nutrition, increasing our capacity and our ability to better serve the evolving needs of pets and pet owners in the United States and around the world."

"Hill's will utilize technology to work alongside Hill's staff and a new state-of-the-art Mission Control Center to provide unprecedented visibility and monitoring through every aspect of pet food making from ingredient intake to final packaging," said Chad Sharp, director of manufacturing for the Tonganoxie Plant. "The production process is an entirely ‘enclosed system’ from ingredient mixing to cooking and container filling – designed to prevent food exposure to environmental contaminants."

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