The veterinary and animal care market covers a broad range of products, including antiparasitic treatments, lotions, shampoos, dietary supplements, antiseptics, sprays, hygiene products, ear care solutions, dental care products, oils, elixirs, as well as reagents and technical preparations designed for animal health. Behind this diversity lies a common challenge: packaging products that are often sensitive while ensuring a high level of accuracy, traceability and safety.

At CDA, we have been supporting manufacturers of veterinary and animal care products with their packaging projects for many years. From filling and capping through to labelling, every stage must meet specific requirements. What are the main challenges involved, and how can our solutions help overcome them?

Veterinary packaging: balancing health, hygiene and product diversity

Veterinary products are far from uniform. Within the same production workshop, it is common to package:

• low-viscosity liquids;
• viscous or paste-like products;
• sprays and atomised products;
• liquid dietary supplements;
• products packed in small bottles, larger bottles, jerrycans or technical containers fitted with pumps, spray heads, pipettes or tamper-evident closures.

This diversity immediately creates a challenge: packaging equipment must be able to adapt to the product’s viscosity, the container type and the closure system. With this in mind, we develop filling machines, capping machines, labellers and monoblocks that can evolve alongside our customers’ production requirements.

First challenge: accurate, consistent filling for a wide range of formulations

Why is filling accuracy so important?

Veterinary products are often sold in small volumes, ranging from just a few millilitres to several hundred millilitres. Many contain active ingredients or specialised formulations that require highly consistent dosing. Manufacturers also need to minimise product loss, particularly when packaging high-value products.

One workshop, multiple product behaviours

A veterinary packaging line may handle:

• a highly viscous pet shampoo;
• a more fluid antiparasitic solution;
• a maintenance spray;
• a dental gel;
• a liquid dietary supplement.

A gel, a lotion and a free-flowing liquid cannot all be filled using the same technology. The appropriate solution depends on product viscosity, the required production rate and the level of dosing accuracy expected.

Which CDA filling solution should you choose?

To meet these diverse requirements, we offer a range of filling solutions. The K-One is perfectly suited to small production runs and frequent recipe changes, while automatic machines such as the K-Net Auto and the K-Line S support higher production rates while maintaining excellent dosing accuracy.

A filling machine designed for veterinary products should provide:

• consistent dosing accuracy;
• easy cleaning between production batches;
• the possibility of upgrading to a higher level of automation as production grows.

Second challenge: capping for product safety and production efficiency

A wide variety of closure types

Veterinary product manufacturers use many different closure systems, including:

• standard screw caps;
• tamper-evident closures;
• pumps;
• spray heads;
• technical dispensing closures;
• pipettes and other application-specific closure systems.

The capping machine plays a crucial role. It must apply closures consistently, reliably and repeatedly without damaging either the cap or the container, while maintaining the desired production rate.

Why is this stage so critical?

Poor capping can lead to:

• leaks;
• product deterioration;
• safety issues during use;
• customer complaints or non-conforming products.

To ensure reliable capping, we adapt the solution to the type of closure being used. Our VS2000, VSA and capping modules integrated into our monoblocks are designed to handle a wide variety of caps, pumps and spray heads while delivering consistent, repeatable tightening.

Third challenge: flawless labelling despite a wide variety of containers

Labels must adapt to multiple requirements

In the veterinary sector, products are packaged in containers with many different shapes, including:

• cylindrical bottles;
• conical containers;
• oval-shaped containers;
• rectangular formats;
• very small containers;
• containers requiring identification on several sides.

Whatever the format, labels must be applied accurately, without bubbles or misalignment, while respecting the required positioning. This is particularly important when the product includes:

• a front-facing commercial label;
• detailed instructions or regulatory information;
• batch numbers, expiry dates or other traceability details.

Regulatory requirements increase labelling precision expectations

In a sector related to animal health, clear and readable information is essential. Manufacturers must be able to apply the following information clearly and consistently:

• the product name;
• instructions for use;
• batch information;
• identification details required for traceability.

Why does choosing the right labelling machine make a difference?

A labeller adapted to the container format helps to:

• ensure accurate label positioning;
• maintain a consistent production rate;
• reduce rejects;
• improve the final appearance of the product.

To meet these requirements, we offer a range of labelling solutions designed for different container shapes. The Ninon Mix, for example, can label cylindrical, conical, rectangular and oval-shaped containers with high precision, even when several labels need to be applied.

Fourth challenge: managing different production rates, batch sizes and format changes

A young animal care brand, a laboratory, a contract manufacturer or an established producer will not all face the same production challenges.

This is why the key question is not only “which machine should we choose?” but rather: what level of automation best matches our production rate, objectives and future development?

For small production runs: flexibility comes first

A company launching a range of shampoos, oils or animal care products may need to:

• produce small quantities;
• manage multiple product references;
• change formats frequently;
• limit initial investment.

In this case, a semi-automatic filling machine, combined where required with a semi-automatic labeller or a suitable capping machine, can be an ideal solution.

For higher production volumes: automation to increase efficiency

As production volumes increase, repeatability, smoother workflows and reduced manual handling become increasingly important.

We develop our solutions around our customers’ evolving needs. A K-One can initially be combined with a capping machine and a labeller, before moving towards a K-Net Auto, a K-Line S or a monoblock solution when production requirements grow.

Fifth challenge: combining compact design, automation and versatility with monoblocks

When production requirements increase, or when a manufacturer wants to optimise the sequence of filling, capping and labelling operations, a packaging monoblock becomes a particularly attractive solution.

What is a monoblock in veterinary packaging?

A monoblock combines several key functions within a single machine:

• filling;
• capping;
• labelling.

At CDA, our monoblocks are designed to integrate these operations into a compact system, with configurations adapted to each project. Our E-Fill and E-Fill SW monoblocks combine filling, capping and labelling on the same piece of equipment. They help reduce handling, save floor space and ensure smooth continuity between each packaging stage.

Why is a monoblock particularly suitable for veterinary products?

Because this sector often involves:

• a wide variety of formats;
• the need to reduce product handling;
• the need to secure and optimise the overall process.

A monoblock solution helps to:

• reduce the machine footprint;
• limit transfers between separate workstations;
• streamline the transition from filling to capping and then labelling;
• improve the overall consistency of the packaging line.

Sixth challenge: hygiene, cleanability and managing product changes

Veterinary product packaging also requires careful consideration of hygiene and equipment cleanability. It is essential to be able to:

• clean product circuits and contact areas quickly;
• prevent cross-contamination between different references;
• reduce downtime during product changeovers;
• maintain consistent filling and capping quality from one product to another.

This becomes even more important when production involves frequent changes between different product batches.

When designing our equipment, we pay particular attention to simple adjustments, easy cleaning procedures and quick format changes. Our objective is to reduce downtime while maintaining consistent packaging quality throughout production.

Seventh challenge: ensuring consistency across the entire packaging line

Performance is not only measured by speed. It also depends on the ability to link each operation together while maintaining consistent quality.

At CDA, we approach packaging as a complete and coherent process. A high-performance filling machine reaches its full potential when it works perfectly alongside the capping machine, labeller and peripheral equipment. This global approach enables us to design packaging lines that are adapted to the specific requirements of each project.

The packaging of veterinary products requires a combination of accuracy, flexibility and reliability at every stage of production. Filling, capping, labelling, traceability and format changes: each project comes with its own specific challenges.

This is why we develop solutions that can adapt to both small production runs and higher-volume requirements. From the K-One to the K-Line S, from the VS2000 to the Ninon Mix, as well as our E-Fill and E-Fill SW monoblocks, we support our customers in designing reliable, scalable packaging lines tailored to their needs.

Would you like to package veterinary or animal care products? Our teams are available to discuss your project and help you identify the most suitable solution.

FAQ : Veterinary product packaging

What are the main challenges when packaging veterinary products?

The main challenges include managing a wide range of formulations (liquid, viscous, paste-like or foaming products), different container formats, the need for accurate filling, reliable capping, clear labelling, as well as meeting traceability and hygiene requirements.

Which filling machine should be chosen for veterinary products?

The choice of filling machine depends primarily on the product viscosity, the dosing volume, the container type and the required production rate.

A small multi-product production run may be better suited to a semi-automatic solution, such as the K-One, while higher-volume production will often require an automatic filling machine or a monoblock solution, such as the E-Fill.

Why use a capping machine for veterinary bottles?

A capping machine ensures consistent and repeatable tightening, which is essential to prevent leaks, secure products during transport and guarantee reliable container closure.

Which labelling machine is suitable for conical, cylindrical or oval-shaped veterinary containers?

The labelling machine must be selected according to the container shape and the number of labels to be applied.

Veterinary products often use containers with a wide variety of formats. A versatile machine, such as the Ninon Mix, ensures accurate and consistent label positioning across different container types.

When should you choose a packaging monoblock?

A monoblock solution, such as the E-Fill, is particularly suitable when you want to combine filling, capping and labelling operations on a single machine.

It is an effective solution for saving space, streamlining the packaging process and improving production efficiency.

Does CDA provide solutions for packaging veterinary and animal care products?

Yes. CDA provides filling machines, capping machines, labelling machines and monoblock solutions designed for the packaging of veterinary and animal care products.

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