CDS Hackner GmbH: “Dry ice offers lower temperatures whilst maintaining a similar cooling duration to other methods.”

Please introduce yourself and the company briefly.
My name is Michael Hackner and I am a managing partner at ‘CDS Hackner’. I have been with the company since 1997.
“CDS Hackner GmbH” specialises in the processing and utilisation of slaughter by-products, such as meat, offal and gastrointestinal tracts from slaughtered animals. These products are used as food for both humans and pets.

You use an ASCO Pelletizer P28 to produce dry ice. What is the dry ice used for and how much do you produce?
The dry ice is required for the transport of frozen dog food. The ‘Graf Barf’ brand is a brand of ‘CDS Hackner GmbH’ and has been successfully established on the market since 2014. It stands for high-quality, food-grade raw food cubes and the first complete BARF meals made from whole pieces. Depending on the order situation, we require between 300 and 2,000 kg of dry ice per day, averaging around 1,000 kg daily. The machine running times are adjusted accordingly.

How do you assess the trend in dry ice production volumes?
We expect that our in-house dry ice production volumes will decline. This is due to several factors: the supply of CO₂ is becoming increasingly difficult and expensive, some parcel delivery services no longer accept dry ice, and, in general, parcel delivery services are becoming increasingly unreliable and expensive. We will therefore be favouring temperature-controlled delivery via frozen food couriers rather than parcel post in future.

What are the advantages of frozen food over wet food, apart from less waste and a targeted diet?
A raw meat diet is based on the natural diet of dogs and is therefore species-appropriate and promotes good health. ‘Graf Barf’ deliberately avoids artificial additives and fillers, which are often triggers for intolerances and allergies. It is a natural food, similar to what wolves find in the wild, but as a convenience product for dog owners.

What do you see as the advantages of dry ice over other cooling methods?
Dry ice offers lower temperatures with a similar cooling duration compared to other coolants such as gel packs.

What measures is the company taking in the area of sustainability?
The holistic, meaningful utilisation of a slaughtered animal as food is fundamentally a very sustainable business objective; it eliminates the need for disposal and thus saves energy and reduces CO₂ emissions. Our new packaging from 2025 onwards will be fully recyclable and can be made from at least 10% recycled material. We are increasingly meeting our energy needs through renewable energy sources. We monitor and assess our resource consumption and energy use, and aim for significant optimisations to minimise our carbon footprint.

Are there any future projects or innovations planned? If so, what are they?
Yes, we are planning to build a new, energy-optimised central refrigeration system as well as further process optimisations in production. These measures go hand in hand with investments in automation technologies. Our aim is to adapt production volumes and intensity to the new challenges and sustainable changes in our industry.

What do you see as a major challenge?
Our industry is undergoing significant change. Adapting to this change requires constant review of our capacities across all areas, as well as a critical examination of all processes. These challenges demand our full attention; quick yet well-founded decisions must be made to remain profitable in the market.

‘CDS Hackner GmbH’ in Crailsheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

CDS Hackner website