Gebrüder Lödige Maschinenbau completes its largest order mixing fat, caramel and flavoring oils to powders
The Ploughshare mixers type FKM took eight months to install, which will complete a number of mixing tasks for the planned strategic growth of the company.
Designed by Paderborn
Christian Schilken, sales engineer, Gebrüder Lödige Maschinenbau based in Paderborn, Germany, told BakeryandSnacks, the machines have been customized according to the customer’s requirements and adapted to the conditions on site.
“Though the machines have a slight different equipment and geometry, they are quite variable and interchangeable with each other,” he said.
“This means that any other machine can be used for another product recipe in case some more product of one type is required.
“This is not the first order made by Gebrüder Lödige Maschinenbau in the West African market. Many important food producers have production sites there, for example, in Nigeria and we have a market presence there.”
The West African company is one of the largest employers in the region with a workforce of around 3,500.
The FKM mixers designed by Paderborn can complete difficult processes such as the addition of fat, caramel or flavoring oils to powders.
The batch mixers operate using a fluidised bed process developed by Lödige.
Ploughshare shovels arranged on a shaft rotate in the drum of the FKM as mixing elements.
Three-dimensional shovels
The bulk materials are subjected to three-dimensional action by the shovels, and the entire product is mixed quickly, precisely and gently.
The eight largest mixers, of type FKM 3000, are equipped with large cleaning doors that make it easier to clean the mixers after the manufacture of products containing grease.
The smallest model, a FM 130 mixer, is manually operated and equipped for multiple functions specifically for the development of new recipes.
“All our machines have been built at our German facility,” added Schilken.
“We provided suitable overseas packaging (sea container) and the customer organized the shipment to Senegal.
“It was a great and interesting challenge processing this project, learning to deal with our partners on site and taking into account the local conditions.
“We are now awaiting new projects in this region and look forward to working with these companies again in the future.”
