With its new fluidised bed agglomerator, Sternchemie has expanded its application and development capabilities for instantising and lecithin coating.
The pilot system enables customer applications to be tested and optimised under controlled, industry-standard conditions.
This shortens development cycles, strengthens 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.”
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 pilot system, Sternchemie can react to customer requests much more flexibly and accelerate product development.
Multiple lecithin blends, dosages and process parameters can be tested and optimised according to customer needs.
The results provide a sound basis for targeted production solutions and process improvements, greatly reducing or even eliminating time- and cost-intensive trials on production lines.
Realistic simulations of customer processes
Fluid bed technology is an established industry standard, especially in milk and instant products.
The pilot system enables Sternchemie to replicate industry conditions in its own laboratory: powders are fluidised by airflow and then treated with special lecithin mixes.
This creates intensive surface contact and applies an even layer of lecithin to the particles. Because the process closely mirrors real production conditions, the result is a tailored lecithin solution that can be transferred directly to the customer’s process.
Improved functionality for customer-specific requirements
The instant food properties customers look for are often very application-specific. At the same time, factors such as solubility, wetting and foaming vary by product, process and instantising 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
Beyond customer projects, the pilot plant gives Sternchemie a technology platform for developing new functional solutions.
“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.
