Bühler adds pasteurisation using NapaRoast technology for safe food processing
Bühler enhanced its market position in the nut processing sector by adding the NapaRoast steam vacuum pasteurisation technology to its extensive range, enabling it to better meet trends like sustainable practices, regulatory compliance, and healthy snacking.
“The integration of NapaRoast puts us in the unique position to be a one-stop shop for our customers,” Cathrin Flühler, head of market segment nuts at Bühler noted. “The best-in-class pasteurisation process guarantees food safety and traceability, and, in combination with our proven technologies for nuts processing, added efficiency. With the integration of the NapaRoast solution into our portfolio, we look forward to sharing the benefits of this technology and serving the NapaRoast customer base – not just for nuts, but for many of the food processing solutions Bühler offers as well.”
The global nut market is growing at an annual rate of up to 7%. The popularity and reputation of tree nuts and ground nuts as healthy snacks due to their high levels of protein, fibre, and antioxidants is growing steadily. With this developing worldwide demand comes an increased focus on food safety. NapaRoast’s steam-vacuum pasteurisation process provides the best answer to the stringent microbial contamination requirements that processors are facing today.
“Our pasteurisation process offers a high pathogen reduction of >5 log in nuts, seeds, and all low moisture foods. During our process steam is used to raise the surface temperature of the product to kill pathogens effectively,” explained Dr Cameon Ivarsson, co-founder of NapaRoast. By pasteurising with saturated steam, the products can be treated effectively at lower temperatures in a partial vacuum. The high efficiency of saturated steam does not require a drying step thus protecting the quality, texture, colour, and flavour of the product.
“We already covered the most important steps such as transport, sorting, storage, roasting, and grinding in our portfolio. When it came to the pasteurisation process, however, we had to rely on solutions from suppliers. Now, our customers can get all the important technologies along the value chain from Bühler, which creates valuable synergies for everyone involved. This collaboration is a perfect match between two companies with the same values such as quality, ingenuity, and creating value for customers and consumers,” said Cathrin Flühler.
Cameon Ivarsson added: “With Bühler, there is a huge opportunity to multiply the impact of our pasteurisation technologies across the globe. Their large customer base paired with decades of experience in plant and process engineering will get the most out of the technology. We could not be more excited about the future for nuts processing.”
The NapaRoast pasteurisation technology is installed in over 40 processing plants around the world, mainly in the United States, Europe, and Africa. Pasteurisation and roasting lines are offered in throughputs ranging from one tonne per hour to six tonnes per hour. Because of the design of the process where the product is treated in bulk bins, there is no breakage, dust, and waste, and down time for product changeover is minimised. Its flexibility allows for the processing of whole pieces, chopped ingredients or powders as well.
To showcase its position in nuts processing and to give customers the unique opportunity to test and train along the value chain, Bühler has upgraded its Flavor Creation Research and Training Center processing in Uzwil, Switzerland.
“Of course, the pasteurisation step is integrated into our state-of-the-art facility for our customers to get first-hand experience of the technology. We are excited to open our center in August this year for trials and to invite them to the first exclusive training session on November 4 and 5,” said Cathrin Flühler.
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