INTERVIEW 20 F&A Alternative Proteins Edition April 2023 you tell us about them? At what point does ANDRITZ take place in the alternative protein market, what does it do and what solutions does it offer? At ANDRITZ, we focus on plant-based proteins, insects and side streams, esp. animal residues. We partner with our customers to design and engineer tailored solutions that meet their needs, depending on the raw material, conditions on the customer site, and the desired quality of the end-product. With more than 170 years engineering experience, multiple delivered solutions in feed and food and the broadest portfolio in industry, we are up for every challenge. To ensure a smooth process of scaling up production to an industrial scale, ANDRITZ is building a test center in Waddinxveen (NL) to develop, refine, validate, and scale protein processes. As separation experts, we continuously drive the next generation of extraction processes, being more efficient, milder, and delivering more valuable proteins (i.e. better tasting, more nutritious and higher functionality / conversion rate). As extrusion experts, we can also directly transform the protein powders to meat alternatives and in doing so, create higher customer value. Building upon our automation resources and our global service network, we remain a partner to our customers also after plant installation, ensuring uptime and increased performance. What can you say about your expectations and targets for the alternative proteins market? For example: What is the place of alternative proteins in your future plans? ANDRITZ sees, that the use of alternative proteins has moved from a trend to reality. Consequently, we have and will further invest in this business, to be the partner of choice for alternative protein producers, from conception of ideas to complete production processes, keeping them running during their lifetime. In your opinion, what is the place and importance of technology in increasing the production capacity in the alternative protein market and in gaining a real commercial scale for the industry? Sustainable scaling of production is the key to success for this industry and there is no single process technology that can be applied for all raw materials. Thus, the deciding for the right technology is key. With the industries’ broadest portfolio and the ability to scale and validate in our new test center in Waddinxveen (NL), ANDRITZ is set up to deliver the right solutions for all our customers, knowing they will always be tailored to their needs. We can build on more than 170 years of engineering experience. Our automation competences and constant research and development of new technologies help us to deliver innovative and efficient solutions. Equally important is the need for milder, but still economic, processes to preserve the nutrition and functionality of proteins. A great example here is the recently developed and launched Turbex, a novel unit operation utilizing the power of cavitation to achieve fast, mild, and efficient extraction. This can also be tested in our new test center in Waddinxveen (NL). As a company that makes investments in this field, we are pretty sure that you follow the current assets, investments and general developments in the industry closely. Based on your observations here, what kind of development do you estimate the market will show in the coming years? Most alternative proteins have overcome the peak of inflated expectations (see Gartner Hype Cycle) and now it is time to deliver on scale. At this point, a partner with scaling and execution competence is needed. ANDRITZ fills this gap. We strongly believe in the growth of alternative proteins beyond the level of feed and food markets. They are an essential component to meet the demands of a growing population.
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