Production of pellets for pet toilets. Profitable business: production of litters for cat litters

Let's describe the production of cat litter as a business. To do this, you just need to purchase simple equipment and master simple technology... Experts estimate the profitability of such a project quite high, but much also depends on the competition in a particular region.

For cat lovers, it is important that the stores have a sufficient selection of such products. After all, toilet fillers are bought almost as often as food. It performs the function of absorbing liquids, eliminating unpleasant odors and must necessarily be safe for animal health. If you offer customers a high-quality and inexpensive product, then there will be a constant demand for it.

Business benefits

It is beneficial to create such a project because:

• Organic litter is very cheap and available to almost all customers.
• The raw materials for its manufacture are easy to find, and the production cost is quite low.
• You need a relatively small start-up capital.
• The profitability is estimated at 100-150%, which looks very attractive.
• No special knowledge and preparation is required in the business of production.
• When opening a company and paperwork, additional certification of products is not needed, and regulatory authorities check such a workshop extremely rarely.
• You can simultaneously engage in the production of other goods from the same raw materials, which will significantly expand the range and increase profits.

registration

For your business to be legal, you should register an individual entrepreneur or LLC in the tax service, indicate the OKVED code corresponding to your activity, and also choose a more favorable taxation system.

Conveniently, this type of product does not require mandatory certification, especially if you focus on making organic versions. This raw material already implies the use of natural ingredients that are safe for animals and humans.

Varieties of fillers

Depending on what it is made of, the following options are distinguished:

1. Organic - their composition is natural. The materials used can be corn waste, wood chips, pellets, nutshells, etc. They are considered the cheapest and easiest to manufacture, and from the disadvantages they highlight only the possibility of individual particles sticking to the paws of the animal.
2. From bentonite clay or zeolite minerals, a lumpy substance is obtained, which, when wet, easily collects into a separate piece and is simply removed with a spatula. But to use it, it is better to purchase a tray with high sides so that the filler does not crumble to the floor.
3. Silica gel - high quality products that provide good absorbency. But some cat owners have noticed that not all animals like the special rustling sound from touching their paws with such a filler.

The simplest and most affordable is the purchase of an automated line for the production of organic goods, for example, from sawdust. The rest of the equipment, as well as the raw materials themselves, will cost much more, which will require serious costs.

As a basis, wood pellets are used, which are waste of woodworking production. Therefore, it is beneficial to establish constant contact with such organizations and receive from them ready-made raw materials with a size of 6-8 mm. Their processing will be simple and fast.

In addition to cat litter, you can make similar products from the same material. So, without special costs, it is available to expand the range of goods and produce fuel for fireplaces, barbecues, fertilizer for the earth, bedding for cattle, etc.

Premises and transport

It is quite easy to find a suitable building for arranging a workshop. In order to save money, rent a small area on the outskirts of cities or even outside of it. Dimensions may not exceed 50 sq. m. You need to divide it into working area and warehouse. Conveniently, the finished filler does not require special storage conditions.

Don't forget to take care of your transportation. It is most convenient to deliver raw materials and deliver goods to shops when you have your own truck. In the absence of sufficient finances, this can be done in the beginning with the help of a rented car.

Equipment

A complete automated line consists of the following elements:

• chopper;
• Dryer;
• granulator;
• cooler;
• packing machine.

The equipment can be purchased either immediately as a ready-made kit or separately. In order to save money, use used equipment or find inexpensive lines from a domestic manufacturer.

Experienced entrepreneurs advise to pay special attention to granulators. It is they who provide a comfortable granular form to the material. This technique can be cumbersome and take up almost the entire workshop, or it can turn out to be compact in size. The second option can be installed immediately at the woodworking enterprise and receive the finished product.

Technological process

Let's briefly describe how the organic filler is created:

1. Perform preliminary drying of granules, shavings, sawdust or other raw materials.
2. Then additional drying is carried out in order to achieve a material moisture level of no more than 10%.
3. Raw materials are crushed with a hammer mill.
4. Steam is passed through it to moisten, due to which the substance sticks together.
5. Next, you need to process it with a press.
6. Cool the products.
7. Sieve and pack in containers of 5, 10, 15 and 30 kg.

Usually, simple Zip Lock bags are purchased for packing and a label with the company logo is printed separately.

Staff

Do I need to hire employees for such a production? If you are focusing on large volumes of manufactured goods, then it is advisable to hire 2 people. Since special skills and knowledge are not required here, it is enough to find unqualified specialists and pay the minimum wage.

Decide separately whether you need an accountant and a sales manager. Usually such functions are performed by the entrepreneur himself. But if there is not enough necessary knowledge, then such personnel can be hired separately. Accounting is more often outsourced, which significantly reduces labor costs.

Deciding what kind of fillers are, choosing your niche and making the first batches of goods is only half the battle. The profitability of a business is directly affected by its implementation. You can set up the sale of cat litter through the following channels:

• pet shops;
• large shopping centers;
• the Internet;
• wholesale bases;
• nurseries.

In order not to spend too much money at the start and quickly achieve full payback, you can try the following:

1. Find a permanent supplier of raw materials close to your workshop. So, delivery will be cheaper.
2. Working in several shifts and maximizing the range of products produced, you can achieve high profits.
3. Try to sell fillers not only through large chains and stores, but also find an outlet directly to consumers.
4. By purchasing used equipment, you will significantly reduce costs and only acquire newer equipment over time.

Financial part

We will provide average figures, although depending on the chosen model of equipment, the final calculations will vary greatly.

Raw materials for organic filler cost no more than 4 rubles per kg. You can sell finished goods for 100-200 rubles. Thus, your initial investment will pay off quickly enough. The profitability is estimated at 100-150% and within six months you can get a net profit from production.

Video: how is cat litter made?

According to many experienced cat owners, wood litter for cat litter is by far the market leader in terms of price-quality-convenience ratio. Interesting facts Igor Stus, the owner of eight cats, shared his experience of using it with our website about this type of filler.

- I have been using wood litter for a long time and I am very pleased with them, although we have tried the most different types... All shelters and overexposures I know also prefer wood filler. I was curious how and who came up with the idea to use sawdust in such an original way.

The history of sawdust, or "pellets"

A short search on the Internet led me to Germany as early as 1947. A sawmill manager named Rudolf Gunnerman came up with the idea of ​​pressing sawdust in order to ... throw them away. The problem was that it was expensive to take the sawdust to the landfill - they are very voluminous and light.

Trucks had to make many trips, and loaders had to swing a shovel for a very long time, and, in the end, the cost of removing sawdust became very high. Rudolf Gunnermann began to press them to fit more into the body, and such briquettes or sawdust granules were called "pellets".

A few years later, after emigrating to the United States, Gunnerman proposed using his invention as fuel. And, by the way, this method is very effective: pressed sawdust gives more heat than wood, if calculated by weight, and burns out almost completely. In the 1970s, Gunnerman filed a patent for his invention, but when exactly pellets began to be used as wood litter for cat litter is unknown.

There is more forest in Russia than in any other country in the world. Of course, we have already thought of pressing sawdust - this is not Newton's binomial, but animal lovers in our country still use an imported invention, and this is because most of Russian wood litters for cats are made from waste or from hardwood, and imported - from conifers. The latter absorb and "hold" the smell much better.

How wood litter for cats is made now

Modern pellet production is a high-tech process, in which sawdust pressing alone is not enough. They are sorted into different categories, ground to a state of dust, special mechanical devices are used for molding, cooled, dried. The production takes into account temperature, humidity, composition of raw materials.

But the ingredients of this "dish" remained the same - only natural wood, no chemical additives. That is why pellets are ideal for the hygienic needs of animals. In addition, the "cat" wood litter remains one of the cheapest. The cost in pet stores, at least in Moscow, starts from 20 rubles per kilogram.

It is important not to confuse kilograms and liters here: despite pressing and granulating, pellets remain a very light and voluminous substance. And, most importantly, for cat's needs there is no point in buying more expensive, high-quality pellets - the absorbent properties do not differ very much, and three kilograms of wood litter in the tray absorb up to 12 liters of liquid.

For me personally, as a very lazy cat owner, pellets have a very important quality. After a portion of pellets has been used by cats, it can simply be poured into the garbage bag completely, without sorting. The tray stays clean and dry and smells like sawdust.

Well, that is, of course, a matter of personal preference. Wood filler causes allergies in some people, which may be due to essential oils contained in the sawdust of coniferous trees used for its manufacture.

But in any case, wood litter for cat litter is a very useful invention and a great alternative for those who prefer natural and clean foods for themselves and their animals.

The most beloved and popular among cats and their owners is wood litter. The demand for this product is due to its affordable cost, ease of use and effective characteristics. The filler perfectly absorbs odors, and therefore in the house in which fluffy pets live, there will be no bad scent. Cats are designed in such a way that they like to have some kind of substance in their tray in which they could easily dig a hole. In addition, a little pet must like the contents of the toilet. As a rule, such a filler is loved by all animals without exception. Their owners are also delighted with the woody variety.

Types of wood fillers

Woody comes in two varieties: absorbent and clumping. The first option is pellets made from crushed and compressed wood dust, which perfectly retains odor and absorbs moisture. The high-quality filler is made from spruce and pine wood without the use of any additives. Such compositions have antiseptic qualities. Some companies use walnut shells instead of wood. Thanks to the introduction of innovative technologies in the production of filler granules, they are cheap in cost, environmentally friendly and do not cause allergies.

The second type of filler (clumping) differs significantly from the absorbent version. If the previous option absorbs moisture with all the poured granules, then when using this type of filler, a lump is formed. It is obtained in the place where moisture has got into. This lump should be removed from the tray.

How to use the filler

The wood litter is usually placed in about three centimeters (3 cm) in the litter box. This amount will be needed for an ordinary deep toilet. If the accessory is equipped with a mesh, then you can reduce the layer to one centimeter. When solid excrement appears, it should be removed with a special spatula. If you start to feel the appearance of an unpleasant odor, then it is recommended to replace the filler completely. To make it more comfortable for a cat or cat to walk in the tray, it is worth every time, after you have completely thrown away the filler, rinse the toilet under running water and soap.

Advantages of wood filler

Wood litter for a cat litter has only one drawback: it sticks to the paws and fur of the animal. The pet further carries these sawdust throughout the apartment. The rest of the tool consists of some advantages. Namely:

In addition, used litter from a completely healthy pet can be used as fertilizer after composting. Such a remedy can also be used for rodents who eat it with great pleasure.

Filler "Clean feet"

The modern domestic market offers a varied selection of wood fillers made by many trade marks... The most successful was the Chistye Lags brand. "Clean paws" is a wood filler, which is produced with the aim of making life easier for people who have settled cats and cats in their homes. Thanks to the special research carried out, it was found that the product of this label can be used all year round. This eliminates the need to regularly replace the contents of the tray. It is only important to remove dirt.

It is an incredibly beneficial filler. One of his packages completely replaces four packages of a product of another brand. Due to the fact that the excrement does not come into contact with the air, this filler eliminates the smell in the best way.

Features of choice

The litter you have purchased may not like not only the cat, but also, in fact, its owner. If this happens, then this indicates that you bought low quality products. A cheap filler will not retain odor, does not absorb moisture well and degrades quickly.

Therefore, when buying this or that filler, you need to pay attention to the strength of the bag and analyze the information on the composition of the product well. If the product is made by a self-respecting brand, then the label will indicate which components the composition is made of, what rate of moisture it absorbs and for which animals it is designed. If the package contains all this data, then you can safely purchase the filler.

Opinions of people regarding the filler

Woody cat litter has received excellent reviews for a long time. The owners, who tried to use it once, no longer want to buy any other options. Moreover, the composition of wood is suitable not only for adult cats and cats, but also for small kittens. Therefore, there is no need to puzzle every time over what to fill the animal's tray.

Sly marketers have long figured out that people sometimes spend crazy money on their pets.

Haircuts and clothes, veterinarians and even beauticians (!) Will not miss their chance to lighten the wallet of the owner of a cat or dog. And this is not to mention the breeders of purebred animals, who even moreover spend huge sums on their charges.

However, most of the townspeople do not come to this, providing pets only what is really necessary. For example, the cat litter industry never lacks orders from retailers. In a word, if you intend to organize your business, but do not know what to do for this, remember the needs of our smaller brothers.

What are the fillers?

There are organic, gel, and clumping varieties of cat litter. The latter two will probably not be interesting to an ordinary entrepreneur in our country, since the raw materials and equipment for their production are expensive, and therefore the cost of the final product is such that demand for it will be only in large cities.

Characterization of organic species

Therefore, we would recommend setting up the production of cat litter from the simplest organic fillers, which include only environmentally friendly raw materials. The latter circumstance, by the way, automatically exempts you from the obligatory certification of fillers.

They can be produced from sawdust, shavings or nutshells, as well as waste from corn processing. This raw material has an excellent ability to absorb moisture and odors, costs literally a penny, and is also completely safe for animal health.

The best raw materials

If you are just starting to expand your production, then it is best to use ready-made wood pellets. Their diameter is about 6-8 mm. Usually they are produced in huge quantities on the basis of wood processing enterprises, and pine and spruce wood is most often used as raw materials.

The fact is that it is this material that not only actively absorbs biological fluids, but also has a bacteriostatic and bactericidal effect. Among all wood litter for cat litter, spruce is the most practical solution... Since raw materials are cheap, sales of such fillers are growing every year.

Cost and profitability

Oddly enough, but it is the production of cat litter that has excellent profitability indicators, and also does not require a huge start-up capital... Most often, products are packaged in packages of five to ten kilograms, and the cost of one is about 120-200 rubles.

As we already said, pellets are used for its production. You can buy them for about four rubles per kilogram. Thus, the initial profit will be at least 35 rubles from each kilogram of finished products. This is why making wood litter for cat litters has become so popular among even seasoned entrepreneurs in recent years.

In principle, by organizing the purchase of raw materials directly from its manufacturer, it is quite possible to achieve a profitability of 100-150%. If, however, to produce pellets, purchasing only sawdust or shavings at bargain prices, the profitability of the enterprise will become even greater.

Production technology

The production of cat litter itself includes the following technological stages:

• Pre-drying of raw materials, which are then sent for crushing.
• Additional drying. At the exit, the raw material should have a moisture content of no more than 8-12%.
• Subsequent crushing of the chips in a hammer mill.
• Moistening the resulting raw material with steam (for its subsequent better gluing).
• Pressing into molds and cooling of granules.
• Screening and packaging of finished products. By the way, bags for fillers can also be produced independently, since the cost of this process is low.

Equipment, its cost

Of course, for this you need the appropriate equipment. We recommend using the ready-made OGM 1/5 line at first. Sawdust, shavings and dry peat can be put there as raw materials. The latter, by the way, makes the production of cat litter even cheaper.

The cost of such a line is about two million rubles. The most important element of the entire production is the granulator, but it will still not be possible to do without other equipment.

Let's consider all the component lines separately:

• Chip grinder - costs about 180 thousand rubles.
• A dryer for raw materials (depending on capacity and volume) can cost from 400 thousand to 2.5 million rubles.
• The simplest granulator costs about 50 thousand, but the most reliable and functional models are sold within 1.5 million. In the OGM-1/5 considered by us, this constructive part costs about one million.
• A pellet cooler will cost 400 thousand.

Note that it is on the granulator that you should pay special attention. The fact is that such a line uses a rather large and cumbersome model. In principle, it is possible to purchase a more compact and lighter version that can be installed directly in the workshop of a wood processing enterprise. In addition, such equipment can be delivered to furniture shop, simultaneously producing another type of product.

As for packing, it is best to take packages of 5, 10, 15 and 30 liters. We have already mentioned that you can produce them yourself.

The cost of equipment for this is about 150-200 thousand rubles. If you order packaging from third-party manufacturers, and even with the requirement to print your company logo on it, then this will ultimately cost much more.

In principle, a small production of wood fillers can successfully use the simplest Zip Lock packages (within a couple of rubles per piece). In this case, it is much cheaper to order labels with the company logo from a third-party printing company.

Sales, certification issues, etc.

The main advantage of the production of fillers is the fact that there is no need to rent large room... Basically, all of the cat litter production equipment can easily fit 50 square meters... There is also no need for any special storage conditions.

As we already noted at the very beginning of the article, products of this type are not subject to mandatory certification. It can be sold both in specialized pet stores and in outlets with everyday goods. Talking about wholesale prices, then on average they are 15 rubles per kg.

Additional production options

But that's not all the benefits! The fact is that wood pellets for fillers can be used in a completely different capacity. So, if you use larger presses to form them, then they can be packaged and sold as fuel for barbecues and fireplaces.

On the contrary, if you crush sawdust (necessarily deciduous) to the finest possible consistency, then the granules are well dispersed among gardeners as an excellent tool for improving the mechanical properties of the soil.

Generally speaking, in large cities, these issues need to be thought out in advance, since the competition can be quite intense, and therefore other types of products will help keep profits.

Pet owners generally spare no expense in providing adequate care and maintenance for their pets. Among the huge variety of products presented by pet stores, toilet fillers occupy an important place. The main parameters that make them necessary, especially for cat owners in an apartment, are environmental friendliness and harmlessness of products, the ability to absorb all odors, as well as affordable prices. What is a cat litter business?

Despite the variety of types of the filler itself, it is optimal to start the production of granular wood filler, where the diameter of the granules is approximately 5-8 millimeters. The advantage of the finished product is the absence of binding impurities when processing environmentally friendly wood, due to which moisture and odor are well absorbed. It is these pellet-granule fillers that they prefer to purchase for their cats.

To start implementing this business idea, you need a small room, with an area of ​​about 45-50 sq. meters, special equipment, as well as sawdust, moisture content no more than 16%. Granules made from light coniferous wood have better absorption properties compared to other fractions.

From the equipment you will need a pelletizer, which can produce about 100-150 kg from sawdust per hour. finished products, the price of such a device starts from 140,000 rubles. However, there are more powerful lines that can produce 600 kilograms per hour, but their cost is 5-6 times more than an average pelletizer.

You will also need a dryer, a crusher and a sieve, equipment for cooling, all this will cost about one million rubles.

It is necessary to pack finished products in paper or plastic bags of different sizes. The minimum weight for sale is 5 kilograms. Such a package will cost from 100 rubles. They must be issued with a color seal with the appropriate stamp. An alternative to such expenses is the sale of pellets in transparent bags with stickers (Zip Lock), where the necessary data is located.

What can this business be combined with? Read - "", "" and "".

Finished products should be sold primarily to pet stores, supermarkets and others. specialized shops goods for animals. The average price per kilogram of filler is 15 rubles. It should be remembered that one small outlet sells more than 100 kilograms per month. Moreover, it is important to consider that it is unprofitable to supply batches of products less than 20 tons over long distances, which should be taken into account when organizing this business.

Do not forget that pellets are more and more widely used in everyday life. Boilers operating on pellets appeared, they are used for pitiful kebabs, gardeners fertilize the soil with them. All these niches are still free in most Russian regions.

In this regard, the production of wood fillers is the most promising for the development of their own business, because does not require significant financial investments and is highly profitable.