Yantai China Pet Foods Co., Ltd. (002891), a leading publicly listed pet food manufacturer in China, has been granted a new invention patent for freeze-drying equipment and processing technology specifically designed for pet food production, according to data from Tianyancha App on June 12.
The patented freeze-drying device features an innovative structural design that includes a freeze-drying chamber, vacuum unit, and refrigeration unit.
Inside the chamber, an angle plate support system and an automated transfer device are installed.
The automated transfer device consists of a support beam located at the bottom center of the chamber, a shuttle cart that engages with the support beam, a lifting mechanism, and a traction mechanism.
The shuttle cart comprises a box-type chassis, support wheels, pawl teeth, axles, and traveling wheels.
The lifting mechanism is designed to tilt the chassis around the support node between the support wheels and the support beam, while the traction mechanism drives the two lifting units.
This design allows the shuttle cart to pitch forward and tilt backward under the coordination of the traction and lifting mechanisms.
The forward tilting action enables the entire shuttle cart to slide beneath the material racks, while the backward tilting action engages the bottom of the stop bars.
As a result, material racks can be smoothly moved along the angle plate support system within the freeze-drying chamber, significantly reducing the physical effort required from workers to push and position racks.
This improvement directly contributes to higher production efficiency in pet food freeze-drying operations.
Since the beginning of this year, the company has received six new patent authorizations.
According to its 2025 annual report financial data, the company invested 106 million yuan in research and development in 2025, representing a year-over-year increase of 45.3%.
The patent approval highlights the growing emphasis on automation and labor-saving technologies in the pet food freeze-drying sector.
As premium pet food demand continues to rise, manufacturers are increasingly seeking equipment that improves throughput while maintaining consistent product quality.
This development also reflects a broader industry trend in which freeze-drying technology is becoming more specialized, with application-specific designs tailored to different product categories—from human-grade freeze-dried foods to high-end pet nutrition.
The automated transfer mechanism is particularly valuable for large-scale production environments where manual handling of heavy material racks can become a bottleneck.
By reducing physical labor requirements, the system not only improves efficiency but also minimizes the risk of workplace injuries and product contamination from human handling.
For international buyers and equipment specifiers, this patent signals that Chinese freeze dryer manufacturers are actively innovating in mechanical automation—a key consideration when evaluating equipment for high-volume, continuous production lines.
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