GEA provides advanced powder handling at greenfield sites for TINE in Norway
03/09/2014 GEA Process Engineering Ltd
GEA has recently completed two powder handling lines for TINE SA in Norway. The installations, on greenfield sites at Jaeren and Verdal, provide conveying, storage, sieving, bagging and palletisation for both whey (WPC80) and permeate powders to meet the company's increased production needs.TINE SA is Norway's largest dairy product cooperative consisting of around 15,000 farmers and more than 5,600 employees. The company's increased production of whey-based powders from its cheese manufacturing facility created a need to extend its powder handling capability at both plants and to take advantage of the latest, most efficient and environmentally sustainable technology.
GEA was chosen as a single source to design and deliver a complete, customised powder handling line including storage silos, contained conveying, sieving, and its big-bag & 25kg bagging, palletising and re-palletising technology.
TINE's contract required high levels of production flexibility (within a limited space), maximisation of powder throughput, precise product accuracy, stringent dust emission guarantees to achieve exceptional yield, a safe working environment for its staff, the minimising of power consumption to meet environmental objectives, and future proofing of equipment to protect TINE's capital investment. An essential requirement was for the bagging system to be sufficiently flexible to handle multiple bag weights and a range of powders with different flow characteristics.
The project began in 2011 and was completed in the summer of last year. GEA was able to seamlessly integrate the powder handling and packing functions using best-in-class project management practices, innovative system design and market leading technology.
TINE chose GEA because it had in-depth experience with its specific powders, a solid technical reference list and its proven ability to deliver turnkey solutions on time, within specifications and on budget. "It has been a pleasure to work with GEA on this project," said Torbjørn Gjerde, Operations Manager for TINE Solid Products.
The new plants at Jaeren and Verdal now represent the ultimate in powder handling technology. All contractual requirements were met by GEA and TINE now has a valuable by-product (permeate powder) that would otherwise have gone to waste.
For more information, please contact:
Andrew Wade
GEA Avapac Ltd
GEA Process Engineering
Tel: +64 7 850 9658,
Fax: +64 7 849 3494
Email: andrew.wade@gea.com
Web: www.gea.com
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