New process technology for bodycare products plant
4 Mar 2011
London – Personal care products maker Urtekram International A/S has installed a Batch Formula mixing system from GEA Liquid Processing, a Skanderborg, Denmark-based technology company of GEA Process Engineering.
The Batch Formula system is designed to achieve an optimal emulsification and homogenous product. The powder is dispersed in the liquid by means of a vacuum, so that froth formation and air in the product is reduced to a minimum.
Working cooperation with GEA Liquid Processing - GEA Process Engineering’s technology centre for Liquid Mixing Systems in Skanderborg, Denmark - Urtekram has achieved an increase in its production capacity for organic bodycare products.
When we set out the success criteria for our investment, it was important to us that we would be able to increase production capacity by a factor of three, explained Steen Resen, export manager at Urtekram.
“After putting the mixing plant into service, we have experienced an even larger increase of our production capacity. Suddenly we are faced with a payback time of less than two years which is unique for us,” said Resen.
The new investment has - among other things - contributed to a reduction of our total consumption of energy and power which is naturally completely in keeping with our ecological mindset,” he added.
Urtekram’s customers are very quality-conscious regarding colour shades, viscosity and air in the product, Resen continued.
Any obstacles we may have had in the past are now completely overcome thanks to the new mixing technology from GEA Liquid Processing. With the Batch Formula mixer, we now have a production plant that is at the forefront of technological development, and we have made sure that all products are 100% reproducible,” he said.
Several trials were initially performed at GEA Liquid Processing to ensure that the mixing system would be able to meet Urtekram’s requirements.
Kirsten Holt, head of planning at Urtekram said: “When we started examining the market for mixing technology, we had very high demands for an optimal hygienic design, and the Batch Formula mixer was able to meet these demands completely.
“GEA Liquid Processing offered to run trials with different products at their pilot plant in Skanderborg. In the beginning, we were not very familiar with mixing technology, but during the trials we experienced the large potential of the mixer.”
“Urtekram and GEA Liquid Processing have worked closely together on optimising the production plant so that it is prepared for future demands for new organic products.”
GEA’s Batch Formula mixing system can be used in a number of different contexts and industries. Besides bodycare products, it is also suitable for other production processes where liquids are to be enriched with different powder products.
The mixing system can, therefore, also be applied in the dairy industry for production of baby food, pre-mixing of products for production of yoghurt and ice cream as well as for production of cream cheese.
