A Tonganoxie Business Park company — dsm-firmenich — officially opened its next generation, state-of-the-art, pet-only premix facility Monday.

The new facility — NextGen Tonganoxie — sets a new standard in pet food safety with 100% automated micro-ingredient additions and fully traceable batch assembly. From basic nutrition to functional formulations on-par with human supplements, NextGen Tonganoxie meets the pet food industry’s full spectrum of demand. The facility will be able to blend dsm-firmenich’s own specialty ingredients with those sourced from third parties, giving dsm-firmenich’s customers the flexibility they need to better support the health and nutritional needs of pets all over America, Canada and Mexico.

The Tonganoxie facility is part of a global company.

Monday’s opening marks a major milestone in the company’s growing pet food portfolio, following the launch of its European facility in Haag, Austria, earlier this year. With two sites now dedicated exclusively to pet food — completely separate from any animal feed lines — dsm-firmenich is positioned in Europe and North America as it works to shape the future of pet nutrition.

The opening also delivers an economic boost to the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor, with 20 new jobs created to date and around 30 expected once the facility reaches full production. The corridor stretches from the west starting with Manhattan and extends to the east in Columbia, Missouri.

Pioneering the future of North American pet nutrition

NextGen Tonganoxie features a first-of-its-kind Amabox containerized transport system.

This ensures 100% automated micro-ingredient additions to premixes that are fully traceable and removes the risk of human errors such as adding the wrong component to a premix, a common cause of pet food recalls, according to a press release from the company. The system’s containerized design prevents contamination between production lines while delivering precision that’s both faster and more accurate than manual processes, giving customers complete peace of mind on quality, safety, and reliability.

The automation at NextGen Tonganoxie, combined with the facility’s blending technology, allows for precise integration of high-sensitivity micronutrients. This includes vitamins, carotenoids, omega-3s, trace minerals, vegetable powders, fruit powders, and microbiome solutions — enabling comprehensive premix solutions tailored to each customer’s needs. Whether manufacturers need standard vitamin premixes for mainstream products or cutting-edge functional blends for premium formulas, NextGen Tonganoxie can cater to all manner of premixes, including therapeutic, premium, maintenance, growth, and functional formulations.

“Just as pet parents go to extraordinary lengths to ensure their companions receive only the best, we’ve gone the extra mile to ensure that every aspect of our new, strategically located facility reflects the mindfulness, protection, and uncompromising standards they demand and deserve, said Rishabh Pande, global vice president for pet food at dsm-firmenich. “With complete dedication to pet food, we’re setting a new standard for safety, quality and the well-being of pets everywhere. Whether you’re developing essential nutrition or premium pet food with added health claims, our team is here to help you exceed expectations.”

The company announced in spring 2023 plans to build a 70,000 square-foot facility at the Tonganoxie Business Park, making it the third company to select the park for a location. The plant sets on nearly 13 acres near 222nd Street and Kansas Avenue.

Originally established in 1902 by the Dutch government as Dutch State Mines. dsm-firmenich originally mined coal, but its last coal mine closed in the early 1970s, according to the company’s website.