Rebuilds for capacity increase
Company: Royal Avebe
Location: The Netherlands
Year: 2020
Application: Modified starch
Technology: Vacuum filter, flash dryer, multi cyclones, service, plant modification and optimisation
“We want to achieve optimum returns for our growers; not just today, but also tomorrow and in the distant future.”
– Royal Avebe
To become more sustainable and create innovative products, there was a need to upgrade the equipment. The old equipment functioned well for 30 years but had high energy consumption and limited capacity.
With legislation always in the works both nationally and globally regarding the reduction of production’s impact on the environment, it was a requirement from Avebe not to exceed the emission permit requirements set by governments and thereby also to reduce their air emissions.
To continue production, old equipment had to be updated to meet the new emission and power consumption requirements.
The result
The Avebe production facility is a 24/7 365-operated plant processing potatoes and derivatives.
It was important to maintain a short downtime of the equipment. From the initial production stop to start-up with the new equipment took six weeks. In those six weeks, the vacuum filter was modified, the flash dryer was completely rebuilt, and a bag filter was replaced with highly efficient multi-cyclones.
The new installations (dryer, multi cyclones and vacuum filter) will be operating 24/7.
By optimising and, when relevant, replacing the end-of-life equipment with SiccaDania state-of-the-art technology, Avebe has experienced an increase in capacity and reduced its emission tenfold.
“Avebe is very satisfied with the new dryer installation and is looking forward to future projects.”
– Rick Harms, Sr Project Manager & Account manager
Partnering with SiccaDania, Avebe has now also gained access to a very knowledgeable maintenance and service team for future needs – including spare parts and installation thereof. It is beneficial for customers that the company already knows the equipment and process’. This makes any future cooperation and requests for maintenance easier for the customer.
For this company, we delivered:
Optimisation of a potato processing factory
- Modification of vacuum filter
- Delivery of a wet starch feeding system for buffering and dosing
- Rebuild of a flash dryer
- Replacing bag filters with hygienic multi cyclones
- Piping system for steam, compressed air and CIP
- Instrumentation and controls
- Steel structures and platforms
- Engineering and Project Management
- Installation and Commissioning
How did Avebe choose a supplier?
Avebe was looking for a provider with well-proven technology within powder separation and drying. Besides being well-known, the government in The Netherlands has stipulated that when new technology is installed, it must be the best technology available regarding energy consumption and emission reduction.
“We do not have all the knowledge about the technical equipment, but we do have the application knowledge. We, therefore, need a supplier of the complete solution with integration and not just the standalone equipment.”
– Rick Harms, Sr Project Manager & Account manager
Avebe had previously cooperated with VTK, now a part of the SiccaDania Group. With positive references, decades of experience within starch processing and a competitive price, Avebe and SiccaDania could begin creating the best solution for Avebe’s starch factory.
“SiccaDania is known for good knowledge of dryers for the starch and protein industry. We already had a good supplier partnership with SiccaDania VTK.”
– Rick Harms, Sr Project Manager & Account manager
Entering into a partnership
“Together we have done a beautiful project.”
– Rick Harms
This project was more than just providing equipment and being a supplier.
Combining engineering expertise, process knowledge, and optimisation ingenuity with the application knowledge of Avebe made it possible to create a more effective and energy-efficient process.
With the need to replace old equipment, Avebe looked for a knowledgeable partner who was able to improve a process through modifications, rebuilds and replacements where necessary.
“SiccaDania has become more than a supplier. They have become a partner for us.”
– Rick Harms, Sr Project Manager & Account manager
The design and installation phase were not without issues, but by working closely with Avebe and both the SiccaDania and Avebe on-site team, these issues were solved quickly and effectively to provide Avebe with a plant they can be proud of.
“We were impressed with SiccaDania’s ability and strength to solve the technical issues very quickly. If they or we found the equipment to have the possibility of performing even better, the SiccaDania team on-site would either replace the equipment or rebuild it on site.”
– Rick Harms, Sr Project Manager & Account manager
About Royal Avebe
Avebe is a cooperative of starch-potato growers focused on the market. Traditionally focused on extracting starch from potatoes, new developments within processes and equipment can also extract food-grade proteins from potatoes.
