Case study: cooling technology speeds gum run
18 Apr 2016
Cooling kit helps chewing gum manufacturer increase production throughput.
Mondelēz International supplies food and drink products throughout the world, and is famous for chewing gum brands such as Trident, Hollywood and Dirol.
The company recently called upon Gabler, one of the world’s leading providers of manufacturing process equipment, to help make improvements in the efficiency of its chewing gum manufacturing process.
Fresh perspective
To complete the project, Gabler was partnered with engineering consultant 42 Technology.
According to 42 Technology, it was appointed by Mondelēz International to bring a fresh perspective, drawing on its experience in cooling technologies, fluid dynamics and process improvement for the food and drink sector.
A major part of the project was to identify new ways of using combined conductive and convective cooling technologies to help speed up the cooling of extruded gum before it is scored, shaped and moved into the conditioning phase.
42 Technology worked alongside Gabler to develop a new system design, develop a theoretical model of the cooling process, advise on the final tunnel design and help with commissioning the new equipment.
Gabler then built and tested the prototype system before manufacturing and installing the final design.
Breakthrough technology
Miles van Niekerk, associate director, new process development at Mondelēz International, says: “The new high-speed cooling tunnels, which have now been installed in three global locations, highlight the significant commercial benefits of bringing together partners with complementary skills.”
The new tunnels have significantly shortened the time needed for gum cooling and conditioning, one of the most time-consuming steps in the manufacturing process
Miles van Niekerk, associate director, Mondelēz International
According to van Niekerk, 42 Technology and Gabler developed a “real breakthrough” in cooling performance that has helped Mondelēz International set a new efficiency benchmark.
“The new tunnels have significantly shortened the time needed for gum cooling and conditioning, one of the most time-consuming steps in the manufacturing process, and [they] are also 40% smaller than the equipment they replace,” van Niekerk says.
Through its partnership, the two companies developed a new generation of high-speed cooling tunnels that are helping Mondelēz International to significantly increase production throughput, reduce work in progress by 60%, and to further optimise downstream processing and packaging, 42 Technology says.
42 Technology has also advised Mondelēz International on a number of other opportunities to further optimise process efficiency through improved control of temperature, humidity and other environmental factors.
