Wenger and Extru-Tech, both global suppliers of pet and human food extrusion processing solutions, will exhibit at Petfood Forum 2026 in Kansas City from 27–29 April 2026 at Booth #1614. This will be the first time both brands have shared a single stand at North America’s largest gathering of petfood professionals.
The joint appearance marks a new stage as the two brands come together under JBT Marel with the aim of driving innovation and broadening product offerings for the petfood processing sector.
“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 petfood offerings in the industry. As a unified partner, we make petfood more sustainable, safe, and nutritious.”
The centrepiece of the exhibit will be the recently launched Minimally Processed Pet Food Line solutions. The system is designed for traditional kibble, premium kibble, “un-kibble” and treats, responding to rising demand for holistic nutrition focused on natural, nutrient-dense and highly digestible products. Visitors will be able to view a complete minimally processed line in operation through a new virtual immersive space, providing an end-to-end look at the process and equipment.
The line supports a range of minimally processed categories, including gently cooked, air-dried, fresh and baked applications. Key technologies on display will include:
- PetFlex Extrusion: Wenger’s twin-screw technology enables processors to switch between traditional recipes and high fresh-meat inclusions on the same equipment. This supports production of personalised, allergy-friendly and sustainable petfoods without extensive hardware changes.
- High Pressure Processing (HPP): JBT Marel’s HPP systems use ultra-high-pressure purified water to help keep raw petfood free from pathogens and fresher for longer.
- Integrated Steam Tunnel: This thermal processing system uses steam tunnel technology for gentle cooking, helping retain nutritional integrity and produce natural-looking chunks suited to premium holistic diets.
Visitors are invited to attend the combined Wenger and Extru-Tech booth (#1614) to meet business development managers, engineers and leadership teams from all brands.
