Mass Production of 80ml Foil Pet Food Cups | Aluminum vs Plastic
Aluminum vs. Plastic for Pet Food: Why Manufacturers Are Switching to 80ml Foil Cups
Note: This manufacturing guide is exclusively for Packaging Factories and Pet Food OEM Processors looking to set up automated production lines.
For decades, the "Wet Pet Food" market was dominated by plastic pouches and cans. But in 2026, a massive shift is happening. Premium brands (like Royal Canin and Sheba) are moving towards 80ml - 100ml Aluminum Foil Cups.
This isn't just about looking fancy. It's about Sterilization Physics and Recyclability. For manufacturers, this shift represents a golden opportunity to upgrade from slow plastic forming to high-speed Aluminum Foil Container Production Lines.
1. The Manufacturing Edge: Retort Sterilization
The Problem with Plastic: Wet pet food must be sterilized at 121°C (Retort process) to ensure a 2-year shelf life. Plastic cups soften at high heat, requiring expensive "barrier layers" (EVOH) and slow cooling cycles to prevent deformation.
The Aluminum Advantage:
Aluminum foil is metal. It conducts heat instantly.
It allows for Faster Retort Cycles. You can cook the food inside the container faster and cool it down faster. For a food factory, Time = Money. Switching to foil can increase your retort throughput by 20%.
2. The Brand Demand: "Plastic-Free" Claims
Pet owners are eco-conscious. A multi-layer plastic pouch is almost impossible to recycle (it ends up in landfills).
The Selling Point: Aluminum is infinitely recyclable. Brands are willing to pay a premium for foil packaging because they can print "100% Recyclable" on the label. As a packaging supplier, offering aluminum cups helps your clients win the "Green War" on the supermarket shelf.
3. The Production Reality: Volume is King
Pet food is a high-volume game. You need millions of cups per month. You cannot use a small machine.
The Recommended Setup: 4-Cavity or 6-Cavity Molds.
Since 80ml cups are small (approx. 85mm diameter), we can fit 4 to 6 cavities on a single mold base used on our 80-Ton H-Type Machine.
Speed: 60 strokes/minute
Cavities: 6 cups/stroke
Total: 360 cups per minute (21,600 cups per hour)
This massive throughput dwarfs standard plastic thermoforming speeds, giving you a significantly lower "Cost Per Unit."
4. The Quality Check: Heat Seal Capability
Pet food cups are not crimped; they are Heat Sealed with a foil lid. This requires the rim to be a "Smoothwall" (Wrinkle-Free) design.
How We Manufacture It:
We use a specialized Smoothwall Mold with high pressure. We ensure the flange (rim) flatness is within 0.05mm tolerance. If the rim is not flat, the heat seal will leak, and the food will rot. Our machines are engineered specifically to hold this tight tolerance over millions of cycles.
Conclusion: Upgrade Your Line for the Pet Economy
The shift to aluminum pet food cups is not a trend; it is the new standard.
Do not get left behind with obsolete plastic equipment.
Planning a high-capacity pet food line? Contact us for a Production Capacity Simulation. We will show you how an 80T H-Type machine with a 6-Cavity mold can replace three of your older machines.
