With its new fluidised bed agglomerator, Sternchemie has expanded its application and development capabilities for instantizing and lecithin coating. The new pilot system makes it possible to test and optimize customer applications under controlled conditions and to industry standards. This shortens development cycles, tightens product recommendations, and significantly accelerates innovation processes. “With the fluidised bed agglomerator at our Stern-Technology Center in Ahrensburg, we can replicate customer applications under realistic production conditions,” says Daniel Kandt, Technical Product Manager Instant at Sternchemie. “This brings us valid results faster, and solutions that are an exact fit. For our customers that means more certainty, higher speed, and at the same time the ability to address new areas of innovation.”

Realistic simulations of customer processes

The fluid bed technology is an established industry standard, especially in the milk and instant products category. With this new pilot system Sternchemie can replicate industry conditions in its own laboratory. Powders are fluidised by the flow of air and then treated with special lecithin mixes. This provides intensive surface contact that applies an even layer of lecithin on the particles. Since the process closely replicates real production conditions, the result is a tailored lecithin solution that is directly transferrable to the customer’s process.

Fast and efficient development of individual customer solutions

Up until now development often required external help, which could lead to capacity bottlenecks and long lead times. With the new system Sternchemie can react to customer requests much more flexibly and accelerate product development. Moreover, multiple lecithin blends, their dosages and process parameters, can be tested and optimised according to customers’ needs. The results provide a sound basis for targeted production solutions and process improvements. This makes it possible to greatly reduce the number of time- and cost-intensive trials on production lines, or even avoid them altogether.

Improved functionality for customer-specific requirements

The instant food properties customers look for are often very application specific. At the same time, factors like solubility, wetting, and foaming vary by product, process, and instantizing method. The new system enables the targeted optimisation of these properties. In parallel, raw material and process influences can be systematically captured and tested, to secure the optimum functionality for the given application in customer use.

A platform for innovation and new applications

With the new system Sternchemie can work on new functional solutions, in addition to projects for customers. “Thanks to the system we can work more on issues like foam control, functional improvement, and alternative raw materials. This expands our technological expertise and at the same time creates the basis for future product innovation,” notes Kandt.

The integration of the fluidised bed  agglomerator in the Stern-Technology Center in Ahrensburg near Hamburg also opens up new possibilities for group-wide developments and customer solutions within the Stern-Wywiol Gruppe. The application of surface-active liquids to powdery products can positively affect a range of properties, including stability, processability, and digestibility.