Combined Brands Expand Capabilities; Unveil New Minimally Processed Pet Food Lines
KANSAS CITY, Mo.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Wenger and Extru-Tech, both global leaders in pet and human food extrusion processing solutions, will exhibit at Petfood Forum in Kansas City on April 27-29, 2026, at Booth #1614. This marks the first time both brands will come together in one booth for the industry’s largest gathering of pet food professionals in North America.
This union marks a new chapter as these trusted brands unite under JBT Marel to drive greater innovation and expand product offerings – all in pursuit of a shared goal to transform the future of pet food processing.
“The 2026 Petfood Forum is the physical realization of our mission to be ‘Stronger Together’,” said Travis Moore, General Manager of Wenger and Extru-Tech. “We bring more than 90 years of Wenger and Extru-Tech extrusion and processing solutions expertise together with JBT Marel’s significant strengths in meat preparation, forming, high pressure processing, and steam tunnel gentle-cooking equipment to offer the most comprehensive pet food offerings in the industry. As a unified partner, we make pet food more sustainable, safe, and nutritious.”
The centerpiece of the exhibit is the recently launched Minimally Processed Pet Food Line solutions. This breakthrough system redefines traditional kibble, premium kibble, “un-kibble,” and treats. It meets the growing demand for holistic nutrition, which focuses on natural, nutrient-dense, and highly digestible products. Attendees will see a complete, minimally processed line in action in a new virtual immersive space, giving them an end-to-end look at the process and equipment.
The line supports a diverse range of minimally processed categories, including gently cooked, air-dried, fresh, and baked applications. Key standouts at the booth will include:
- PetFlex Extrusion: The most versatile twin-screw technology to date. Wenger’s PetFlex extruder allows processors to swap between traditional recipes and high-fresh-meat inclusions on the same hardware. This enables the production of personalized, allergy-friendly, and sustainable pet foods without the need for extensive hardware changes.
- High Pressure Processing (HPP): JBT Marel’s HPP machines utilize ultra-high-pressure purified water to keep raw pet food free of pathogens and fresh longer.
- Integrated Steam Tunnel: This thermal processing equipment uses steam tunnel technology for gentle cooking, leading to higher nutritional integrity and natural-looking chunks required for premium holistic diets.
Attendees are invited to visit the combined Wenger and Extru-Tech booth (#1614) and speak with business development managers, engineers and leadership from all brands.
About JBT Marel
JBT Marel Corporation (NYSE and Nasdaq Iceland: JBTM) is a leading global technology solutions provider to high-value segments of the food & beverage industry. JBT Marel’s unique solutions of integrated equipment, service, software, and application expertise enables customers to optimize food yield and efficiency, improve food safety and quality, and enhance uptime and proactive maintenance, all while reducing waste and resource use across the global food supply chain. JBT Marel operates more than 50 manufacturing and distribution facilities globally. For more information, please visit www.jbtmarel.com.
Contacts
Caroline Wenokur
[email protected]
