Page 128 - AMEFT Journal 2021-4

Biotechnology customer Novozymes, has chosen GEA technology for a new alternative protein plant in Nebraska, USA. The major order covers the manufacturing steps from harvesting to separation of proteins.
MARKET & NEWS
(Source: GEA)
GEA bags multi-million-euro order
GEA is further expanding its market position in the dynamically grow- ing new food market. The world’s larg- est supplier of enzyme and microbial technologies headquartered in Den- mark, Novozymes has entrusted GEA with the turnkey fitting of a major new plant to produce plant-based proteins for the plant-based food industry. The volume of this order is well into the high double-digit million-euro range. Building the new factory in Nebraska, USA, will start later this year and is ex- pected to be completed towards the end of 2023.
“The demand for foods that have a demonstrably lower environmental footprint than conventionally pro- duced products is growing enormous- ly,” says GEA CEO Stefan Klebert. “With our technologies and experience in scaling industrial applications, GEA is ideally positioned to serve the new food market and thus contribute to
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our corporate purpose of ‘engineering for a better world’. We are pleased to partner with Novozymes in this strate- gic project,” says Klebert.
For decades, Novozymes has been developing fermented catalytic (i.e. industrially produced) proteins – en- zymes – that are the basis for many in- dustrial applications. Only recently, the company announced its intention to invest DKK 2 billion in the growth mar- ket for functional proteins (advanced protein solutions) for the food indus- try. “This investment in a new, state- of-the-art production line in Blair, Ne- braska, underscores our commitment to feeding the world sustainably and demonstrating the true strength of biotechnology,” says COO & Executive Vice President Graziela Chaluppe dos Santos Malucelli, Novozymes.
The new plant covers the manufac- turing steps from harvesting to sepa- ration of proteins. According to Heinz-
Jürgen Kroner, Senior Vice President Liquid Technologies at GEA who is also responsible for the company’s alterna- tive foods business, both partners are united by their ability to build scalable, reliable, and highly efficient plant sys- tems. “This project is exceptional in many respects. The intensive bidding phase saw us planning the production lines for the ingredients less than a year later. We now aim to implement the project at the same pace. The partnership is a very rewarding experi- ence.”, he added.
GEA will now construct the process systems, which include membrane fil- ters, mixers, homogenizers, heat ex- changers, pasteurizers and UHT units, cleaning and filling systems as well as the pump and valve technology. Instal- lation will start mid-2022. The produc- tion capacity initially built can easily be expanded to multiply the capacity in the future as demand grows.
(Source: Novozymes)
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