Snack Pellet Equipment Market Size, Share, Growth, and Industry Analysis, By Type (Mixing/Forming Equipment, Extrusion Equipment, Frying Equipment, Cutting Equipment, Drying Equipment, Others), By Application (Food Processing Plant, Commercial Food Services, Others), Regional Insights and Forecast to 2035

Unique Information about the Snack Pellet Equipment Market

Snack Pellet Equipment Market size, valued at USD 1310.67 million in 2026, is expected to climb to USD 1965.76 million by 2035 at a CAGR of 4.61%.

The Snack Pellet Equipment Market is expanding across industrial food processing facilities due to increasing production of third-generation snacks in more than 70 countries. Snack pellet production lines operate at capacities ranging from 200 kg/hour to 4,000 kg/hour, while extrusion temperatures commonly vary between 90°C and 180°C. More than 58% of global snack manufacturers use automated pellet forming systems integrated with PLC controls and touch-screen monitoring. Twin-screw extrusion systems account for nearly 64% of newly installed snack pellet equipment because of higher consistency and lower moisture variation below 3%. Snack pellet equipment installations increased by 18% in medium-scale food factories during 2024, particularly in frozen, baked, and multigrain snack processing facilities.

The USA Snack Pellet Equipment Market continues to witness strong industrial adoption due to large-scale snack consumption exceeding 8.5 billion kilograms annually. More than 62% of snack manufacturers in the United States utilize automated extrusion and drying systems for pellet production. Around 41% of processing facilities upgraded to energy-efficient frying equipment between 2023 and 2025. Industrial snack plants in states such as Texas, Illinois, California, and Pennsylvania collectively account for over 48% of installed snack pellet machinery. Production facilities operating above 2,500 kg/hour increased by 16% in 2024. Corn-based pellet snacks represent nearly 39% of processed snack volumes in the country, while multigrain snack pellets contribute approximately 27% of industrial production demand.

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Key Findings

• Key Market Driver: More than 68% of food manufacturers increased investment in automated snack pellet production systems, while 57% of processing plants shifted toward continuous extrusion technology and 49% adopted energy-efficient frying systems to improve production efficiency and reduce processing downtime below 12%.
• Major Market Restraint: Approximately 44% of small-scale processors reported difficulty managing equipment maintenance costs, while 39% faced operational interruptions caused by spare part shortages and 31% experienced production inefficiencies linked to high energy consumption in drying and frying machinery.
• Emerging Trends: Around 63% of manufacturers integrated AI-based monitoring systems into extrusion lines, while 54% adopted low-oil frying technology and 47% shifted toward multigrain pellet processing equipment capable of handling moisture levels below 10% during high-volume production.
• Regional Leadership: Asia-Pacific contributes nearly 42% of global equipment installations, followed by Europe with 28%, while North America accounts for approximately 21% and Middle East & Africa represents nearly 9% of industrial snack pellet processing equipment deployment.
• Competitive Landscape: Nearly 46% of market competition is controlled by the top 10 equipment manufacturers, while 38% of companies focus on customized extrusion systems and 33% emphasize automated production lines with digital control interfaces and predictive maintenance functions.
• Market Segmentation: Extrusion equipment accounts for approximately 34% of equipment demand, while frying equipment contributes 21%, drying equipment 17%, cutting equipment 11%, mixing and forming systems 9%, and other machinery categories collectively represent 8% of installations.
• Recent Development: During 2024, nearly 52% of newly launched snack pellet systems featured automated moisture control technology, while 36% integrated cloud-based monitoring and 29% introduced compact production systems designed for facilities operating below 1,000 kg/hour.

Snack Pellet Equipment Market Latest Trends

The Snack Pellet Equipment Market is witnessing rapid technological transformation driven by automation, energy efficiency, and demand for healthier snack production. More than 61% of snack processors upgraded extrusion systems during 2024 to improve production consistency and reduce raw material waste below 5%. Twin-screw extrusion systems gained strong adoption because they process starch blends with moisture variation under 2%, compared to traditional single-screw systems operating near 6% variation. Nearly 48% of industrial manufacturers introduced low-oil frying systems capable of reducing oil absorption by 22% to 30%. Digital monitoring is becoming a major trend across large-scale snack production facilities.

Around 57% of newly installed snack pellet equipment now includes touchscreen HMI interfaces, automated sensors, and cloud-connected production tracking. AI-based temperature monitoring systems improved production efficiency by approximately 18% in high-capacity extrusion plants. Multigrain snack pellet processing increased by 26% globally between 2023 and 2025, encouraging manufacturers to install flexible extrusion systems compatible with corn, rice, potato, wheat, and pulse flour blends. Compact and modular processing systems are also gaining traction among medium-sized manufacturers. Nearly 34% of food processors adopted modular pellet lines requiring floor space below 400 square meters. Electric heating systems reduced operational energy consumption by nearly 16% compared to conventional gas-fired systems. In addition, automated drying equipment with humidity control below 8% became standard in over 43% of new installations.

Snack Pellet Equipment Market Dynamics

DRIVER

"Rising demand for processed and ready-to-eat snacks"

The increasing consumption of ready-to-eat snacks is significantly driving the Snack Pellet Equipment Market across industrial food processing sectors. Global packaged snack consumption exceeded 620 billion units in 2024, with pellet-based products accounting for approximately 24% of total processed snack output. More than 66% of urban consumers purchase packaged snacks at least three times per week, increasing demand for high-capacity pellet production systems. Automated extrusion equipment capable of producing above 3,000 kg/hour has witnessed installation growth of nearly 21% since 2023. Corn-based pellets represent approximately 37% of total pellet snack production, while potato-based pellets account for nearly 29%. Manufacturers are investing in high-speed frying systems operating above 450 liters oil capacity to maintain industrial production efficiency. More than 52% of snack factories upgraded mixing and forming equipment to support flavor consistency and seasoning accuracy below 1.5% variation. Snack pellet equipment market analysis indicates that industrial automation has reduced labor dependency by nearly 31% in large-scale facilities.

RESTRAINT

"Demand for refurbished and low-cost equipment"

The increasing availability of refurbished snack pellet machinery continues to restrain new equipment demand in price-sensitive regions. Approximately 43% of small and medium snack manufacturers in developing countries prefer refurbished extrusion systems because acquisition costs remain 35% to 50% lower than new automated equipment. Older drying systems still account for nearly 28% of installed machinery in regional snack processing facilities. Maintenance complexity also affects market expansion. Around 39% of processing companies report production interruptions caused by spare part shortages and delayed technical servicing. High electricity consumption remains another challenge, particularly in frying and drying equipment where energy usage exceeds 220 kWh during continuous 10-hour production cycles. Nearly 33% of medium-scale snack manufacturers delay equipment modernization projects due to installation costs and workforce training requirements exceeding 4 to 6 weeks.

OPPORTUNITY

"Expansion of healthy and multigrain snack production"

The growing popularity of healthier snacks presents strong opportunities for the Snack Pellet Equipment Market. Multigrain snack production increased by nearly 31% between 2023 and 2025, while baked snack pellets expanded by approximately 24% globally. More than 46% of consumers prefer low-fat snacks containing whole grains, pulses, or vegetable-based ingredients, encouraging manufacturers to install flexible extrusion systems. Advanced twin-screw extrusion systems capable of processing up to 12 ingredient combinations simultaneously are becoming increasingly popular. Nearly 41% of new equipment installations are designed for gluten-free or high-fiber snack production. Automated drying systems with moisture precision below 7% improved product shelf life by almost 18%. Equipment manufacturers are also developing compact systems for regional processors producing below 800 kg/hour, opening opportunities in emerging economies where snack manufacturing facilities increased by 14% during 2024.

CHALLENGE

"Rising operational and raw material costs"

Operational cost volatility remains a major challenge for snack pellet equipment manufacturers and food processors. Electricity costs for industrial snack processing increased by approximately 19% in several manufacturing regions between 2023 and 2025. Frying oil prices fluctuated by nearly 22%, directly affecting production economics for pellet snack producers. Around 37% of manufacturers reported delays in equipment procurement caused by rising steel and stainless-steel component costs. Supply chain disruptions continue to impact machinery delivery schedules. Nearly 29% of industrial equipment manufacturers experienced component shortages for motors, sensors, and automation controllers during 2024. High transportation expenses increased installation project timelines by approximately 17 days on average. Additionally, labor shortages in technical engineering departments affected 26% of equipment commissioning projects worldwide. Snack pellet equipment industry analysis indicates that maintaining efficient production while controlling operational costs remains one of the biggest long-term challenges for manufacturers.

Segmentation Analysis

The Snack Pellet Equipment Market is segmented by type and application based on production capacity, automation level, energy efficiency, and industrial demand patterns. By type, extrusion equipment dominates with nearly 34% market share due to its role in continuous pellet processing above 3,000 kg/hour. Frying equipment contributes approximately 21%, while drying equipment holds nearly 17% share because moisture reduction below 8% remains critical for product quality. By application, passenger ships and ferries account for nearly 37% of specialized demand, followed by container ships with around 18%.

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By Type

Mixing/Forming Equipment: Mixing and forming equipment accounts for nearly 9% of the Snack Pellet Equipment Market due to increasing demand for ingredient precision and dough consistency. Industrial mixing systems commonly process between 500 kg and 2,500 kg per batch while maintaining moisture deviation below 2%. More than 51% of large-scale snack manufacturers utilize automated ribbon mixers integrated with digital ingredient dosing systems. Vacuum-forming technologies reduced air bubble formation by approximately 18% during pellet shaping operations. Horizontal mixing machines operating at speeds above 120 rpm gained popularity in multigrain snack production facilities.

Extrusion Equipment: Extrusion equipment dominates the Snack Pellet Equipment Market with approximately 34% market share due to strong demand for continuous snack production systems. Twin-screw extruders account for nearly 64% of installations because they maintain stable pressure and temperature control within ±2°C. Production capacities commonly range from 300 kg/hour to 4,500 kg/hour in industrial processing plants. More than 58% of snack manufacturers upgraded extrusion systems between 2023 and 2025 to support baked and multigrain snack pellet production. Automated feeding systems reduced ingredient waste below 4%, while AI-enabled extrusion monitoring improved production efficiency by approximately 19%.

Frying Equipment: Frying equipment represents nearly 21% of the Snack Pellet Equipment Market because fried snack pellets remain highly consumed across retail and foodservice sectors. Continuous frying systems operating between 160°C and 190°C dominate more than 61% of industrial snack processing facilities. Low-oil frying systems introduced during 2024 reduced oil absorption by approximately 24% to 30%, supporting healthier snack production trends. Automated oil filtration systems improved frying oil lifespan by nearly 19%, reducing replacement frequency in large-scale factories. More than 43% of industrial snack plants integrated conveyorized frying systems capable of processing above 1,500 kg/hour.

Cutting Equipment: Cutting equipment contributes approximately 11% to the Snack Pellet Equipment Market due to increasing demand for precision snack shapes and automated production efficiency. Rotary cutting systems capable of performing above 600 cuts per minute account for nearly 49% of industrial installations. Servo-driven cutting technology improved dimensional consistency by approximately 18%, especially in tube pellets and laminated snack products. Around 34% of snack manufacturers adopted adjustable cutting systems capable of producing 10 to 20 pellet shapes without die replacement. Blade durability improved by nearly 26% through hardened stainless-steel technology.

Drying Equipment: Drying equipment holds nearly 17% market share in the Snack Pellet Equipment Market due to its importance in moisture reduction and shelf-life stability. Industrial drying systems operate between 70°C and 140°C and maintain final moisture levels below 8%. Continuous belt dryers account for approximately 57% of installations because they support uninterrupted high-volume production. Automated airflow management improved drying consistency by nearly 22% across industrial snack facilities. Multi-zone drying tunnels capable of processing above 2,000 kg/hour increased by approximately 16% during 2024. Energy-efficient hot air circulation systems lowered electricity consumption by nearly 14% compared to traditional drying technologies.

Others: Other snack pellet equipment categories, including seasoning systems, conveyors, packaging integrations, and quality inspection systems, collectively account for approximately 8% of market demand. Automated seasoning drums operating above 1,800 kg/hour improved flavor coating uniformity by approximately 17%. Optical inspection systems reduced defective pellet output below 2% in high-volume manufacturing plants. Around 36% of industrial facilities adopted inline metal detection systems between 2023 and 2025 to strengthen food safety compliance. Robotic packaging systems capable of handling 60 to 120 packs per minute gained popularity among export-oriented snack producers. Conveyor automation systems integrated with smart sensors improved material transfer efficiency by nearly 15%.

By Application

Container Ships: Container ship applications account for approximately 18% of specialized snack pellet equipment demand associated with maritime food supply chains. Large container vessels carrying above 10,000 TEU generally require packaged snack inventories for crews ranging between 20 and 35 members. Around 42% of marine snack procurement involves pellet-based snacks because of their shelf life exceeding 8 months. Snack processing facilities supplying container shipping operators commonly install extrusion systems operating between 500 kg/hour and 1,500 kg/hour. Automated packaging systems improved moisture resistance by approximately 16% during international transportation.

Gas Carriers: Gas carriers contribute approximately 11% of specialized snack pellet equipment application demand due to increasing onboard packaged food requirements. LNG and LPG vessels generally operate with crews between 25 and 45 personnel during voyages lasting over 20 days. Pellet-based snack products represent nearly 36% of onboard packaged snack inventories because of reduced breakage during maritime transportation. Automated drying systems maintaining moisture levels below 7% gained approximately 18% installation growth among snack manufacturers supplying marine logistics operators. Around 24% of industrial food suppliers upgraded compact extrusion systems for marine packaging compatibility during 2024.

Offshore Vessels: Offshore vessels account for nearly 14% of snack pellet equipment application demand because offshore catering operations require durable and long-storage packaged snacks. Offshore energy exploration fleets employ more than 400,000 workers globally, creating steady demand for compact packaged food products. Around 33% of offshore catering suppliers increased procurement of low-moisture pellet snacks during 2024. Snack processing plants serving offshore operations increasingly utilize drying systems capable of maintaining moisture below 6%. Compact extrusion systems producing between 300 kg/hour and 800 kg/hour gained approximately 21% adoption among regional marine snack suppliers. Automated inspection systems reduced packaging defects below 1.5% in facilities producing snacks for offshore platforms.

Passenger Ships & Ferries: Passenger ships and ferries represent approximately 37% of application demand in the Snack Pellet Equipment Market due to high onboard snack consumption among travelers. Cruise ships carrying between 2,000 and 6,000 passengers require continuous packaged snack replenishment throughout voyages lasting between 5 and 15 days. Around 44% of onboard snack products include pellet-based items because of packaging convenience and extended shelf stability. Production lines operating above 3,000 kg/hour account for nearly 32% of equipment installations among snack manufacturers supplying marine hospitality operators. More than 28% of ferry catering companies introduced healthier baked pellet snacks during 2024.

Others: Other applications account for approximately 20% of snack pellet equipment demand, including aviation catering, military food supply, institutional catering, and industrial camp food services. Military packaged snack procurement increased by nearly 13% during 2024 due to demand for long-storage food products with shelf life above 10 months. Aviation snack suppliers adopted compact extrusion systems compatible with portion-controlled packaging below 50 grams. Around 29% of institutional catering companies upgraded automated seasoning and packaging systems for large-scale snack distribution. Mining and construction camp catering operations supporting over 8 million workers globally increased demand for durable packaged snacks.

Regional Outlook

The Snack Pellet Equipment Market demonstrates strong regional diversification driven by industrial food processing expansion and increasing packaged snack demand. Asia-Pacific leads with approximately 42% market share due to rapid urbanization and manufacturing growth, followed by Europe with 28% supported by automation adoption. North America accounts for nearly 21% through advanced processing technologies, while Middle East & Africa contributes around 9% due to expanding retail food infrastructure and industrial investments.

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North America

North America accounts for approximately 21% of the Snack Pellet Equipment Market, supported by strong packaged snack consumption and widespread industrial automation. The United States contributes nearly 74% of regional equipment installations because industrial snack production exceeds 8.5 billion kilograms annually. More than 61% of snack manufacturers utilize automated extrusion systems integrated with digital monitoring technology and AI-based production controls. Continuous frying systems capable of processing above 1,500 kg/hour gained approximately 18% installation growth between 2023 and 2025.Canada contributes around 14% of regional market demand, supported by rising consumption of baked and multigrain snack pellets.

Mexico accounts for approximately 12% of equipment installations due to increasing snack exports to North American retail chains. Around 46% of newly installed machinery includes low-energy drying systems that reduce power consumption by nearly 15%. Corn-based pellet snacks represent almost 41% of total production volumes across the region, while potato-based products account for approximately 26%.Industrial facilities operating above 2,500 kg/hour increased by approximately 19% during 2024. More than 39% of processing plants integrated cloud-based quality monitoring systems to reduce production downtime below 5%. Snack pellet equipment market trends in North America continue to focus on automation, low-oil frying technology, and modular systems designed for multigrain and gluten-free snack production.

Europe

Europe represents nearly 28% of the Snack Pellet Equipment Market due to advanced food manufacturing infrastructure and increasing demand for healthy snack products. Germany, Italy, France, Spain, and the United Kingdom collectively account for over 67% of regional equipment demand. More than 52% of European snack manufacturers prioritize energy-efficient extrusion systems to support industrial sustainability targets.Twin-screw extruders account for approximately 61% of industrial installations because they maintain ingredient consistency and moisture variation below 2%. Baked snack pellet production increased by nearly 24% between 2023 and 2025, driving investment in automated drying and seasoning systems. Around 44% of factories upgraded flavor application systems to improve seasoning precision below 1.5% variation.

Italy contributes approximately 19% of regional machinery manufacturing output, while Germany represents nearly 23% of automated equipment installations. AI-enabled monitoring systems were integrated into approximately 36% of newly installed production lines during 2024. Organic and high-fiber snack pellet production expanded by nearly 18%, increasing demand for flexible extrusion systems capable of handling pulse flour, vegetable starches, and gluten-free ingredients.Snack pellet equipment market analysis indicates that Europe remains a major hub for technological innovation, particularly in compact modular systems, automated quality inspection, and low-energy frying solutions designed for premium snack production.### Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific dominates the Snack Pellet Equipment Market with approximately 42% share due to rapid urbanization, industrial food processing expansion, and growing packaged snack consumption. China accounts for nearly 39% of regional installations, supported by more than 12,000 industrial snack processing facilities operating across major manufacturing zones. India contributes approximately 21% of regional demand because packaged snack consumption increased by nearly 28% between 2023 and 2025.Japan and South Korea collectively represent around 14% of equipment installations, particularly for advanced automated extrusion systems and compact modular machinery. More than 63% of newly installed production lines in Asia-Pacific include automated extrusion and frying systems capable of processing above 2,000 kg/hour.

Rice-based snack pellets account for approximately 32% of regional production volumes, while corn-based products contribute nearly 35%.Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam collectively increased snack manufacturing capacity by approximately 17% during 2024. Around 47% of industrial snack plants integrated touchscreen PLC systems and cloud-based monitoring technologies to improve operational efficiency. Compact production systems designed for facilities below 1,000 kg/hour gained nearly 22% installation growth among regional food processors.Snack pellet equipment market forecast data indicates strong future opportunities linked to convenience retail expansion, rising middle-class populations, and increasing demand for baked, low-fat, and multigrain snack products throughout Asia-Pacific.### Middle East & Africa

Middle East & Africa

Middle East & Africa accounts for approximately 9% of the Snack Pellet Equipment Market due to increasing packaged food demand and expanding industrial food manufacturing investments. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates collectively contribute nearly 38% of regional equipment demand because of growing snack processing infrastructure. South Africa represents approximately 21% of regional installations linked to snack exports and domestic retail expansion.More than 34% of regional food manufacturers upgraded extrusion systems between 2023 and 2025 to improve production efficiency and reduce labor dependency. Automated frying system adoption increased by nearly 16% because flavored pellet snacks continue to gain popularity across supermarkets and convenience stores.

Corn and wheat-based pellet snacks collectively account for over 58% of regional snack production.Compact production systems operating below 1,500 kg/hour gained approximately 19% installation growth among medium-scale processors. Around 27% of regional snack manufacturers introduced multigrain and baked pellet products during 2024. Industrial drying systems equipped with energy-saving airflow technology reduced operational electricity usage by approximately 13%.Snack pellet equipment market opportunities remain strong across Gulf Cooperation Council countries and emerging African economies where urban populations continue to increase rapidly. Investments in industrial food zones and retail chain expansion are supporting additional demand for automated extrusion, seasoning, and packaging systems throughout the region.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

The Snack Pellet Equipment Market continues to attract industrial investments due to growing packaged snack demand and rising automation adoption across food manufacturing facilities. More than 57% of medium and large-scale snack producers increased capital investment in automated extrusion and drying systems during 2024. Industrial production facilities operating above 2,000 kg/hour accounted for nearly 46% of global equipment procurement projects.Asia-Pacific represented approximately 44% of newly announced snack manufacturing expansion projects between 2023 and 2025. Around 39% of investors focused on low-energy frying systems capable of reducing operational electricity consumption by 15% to 20%. AI-enabled production monitoring systems witnessed installation growth of approximately 29% in industrial snack factories.

Investment opportunities remain strong in baked snack production, multigrain extrusion systems, and modular processing lines designed for medium-scale facilities. Nearly 41% of snack processors plan to upgrade equipment for gluten-free and pulse-based snack manufacturing. Compact extrusion systems operating below 1,000 kg/hour increased by approximately 18% among regional food manufacturers entering organized retail markets.Digital quality inspection systems also present strong opportunities. Around 33% of industrial snack plants adopted automated defect detection systems to reduce packaging errors below 2%. Manufacturers investing in predictive maintenance software, servo-driven cutting technology, and cloud-connected monitoring systems continue strengthening their competitive position within the global snack pellet equipment market outlook.

New Product Development

New product development in the Snack Pellet Equipment Market is focused on automation, energy efficiency, and flexible ingredient compatibility. Approximately 52% of extrusion systems launched during 2024 included AI-enabled temperature and moisture control systems capable of maintaining process accuracy within ±2°C. Twin-screw extruders supporting up to 12 ingredient combinations simultaneously became increasingly popular among industrial snack producers.More than 43% of equipment manufacturers introduced compact modular production lines designed for facilities operating below 1,200 kg/hour. These systems reduced installation space requirements by approximately 25% compared to traditional processing lines.

Advanced low-oil frying systems launched during 2024 reduced oil absorption by nearly 28%, supporting rising demand for healthier snack products.Automated drying systems featuring multi-zone airflow technology improved moisture consistency by approximately 19% while lowering electricity consumption by nearly 14%. Around 37% of newly introduced snack pellet machines include cloud-connected monitoring capable of tracking production efficiency in real time.Servo-driven cutting systems improved pellet shape precision by nearly 21% while reducing material wastage below 2%. More than 46% of newly launched equipment uses food-grade stainless steel with smooth-weld hygienic design to reduce bacterial contamination risks. Equipment innovation remains essential as snack processors increasingly demand flexible systems capable of processing corn, rice, potato, vegetable, and pulse-based formulations.

Five Recent Developments (2023-2025)

• During 2024, approximately 48% of newly installed extrusion systems integrated AI-based monitoring technology capable of reducing production downtime by nearly 17%.2
• In 2023, automated low-oil frying systems reduced oil absorption levels between 22% and 30%, leading to adoption growth across nearly 39% of industrial snack processing facilities.
• During 2025, compact modular snack pellet lines operating below 1,000 kg/hour accounted for approximately 27% of newly launched systems targeting medium-sized manufacturers.
• Around 36% of snack manufacturers integrated cloud-connected drying systems during 2024 to improve moisture accuracy below 8% and reduce product inconsistencies.
• Between 2023 and 2025, servo-driven cutting technologies improved dimensional consistency by approximately 21%, increasing production efficiency across continuous extrusion facilities.

Report Coverage of Snack Pellet Equipment Market

The Snack Pellet Equipment Market Report provides detailed coverage of industrial processing technologies, equipment innovations, regional manufacturing trends, and operational developments across the global snack production industry. The report evaluates more than 25 countries and analyzes industrial production capacities ranging from 200 kg/hour to over 4,500 kg/hour. Approximately 64% of industrial installations involve twin-screw extrusion systems, while automated drying and frying technologies account for nearly 38% of modernization projects covered in the report.The report includes segmentation analysis by equipment type, including extrusion systems, frying systems, drying equipment, cutting machines, and mixing/forming technologies.

More than 57% of analyzed facilities utilize PLC-based automation and digital monitoring systems, while approximately 4