Lallemand unveils its strategic resolution to make substantial investments in its selenized yeast plant.
23 Might 2024
5 minute learn
As a part of its dedication to adapt to market modifications and proactively handle the evolving calls for of its prospects, Lallemand, a worldwide chief in microbial fermentation, unveils its strategic resolution to make substantial investments in considered one of its selenized yeast plant.
For the previous 4 years, the feed trade, alongside quite a few different sectors, has been impacted by broader financial components, such because the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation and escalating vitality prices.
In gentle of those challenges, Lallemand Animal Diet is happy to announce important investments to its manufacturing infrastructure in Felixstowe (UK), one of many firm’s predominant manufacturing websites for selenium-enriched yeast (ALKOSEL).
These enhancements are strategically designed to strengthen the corporate’s resilience and adaptableness in response to exterior pressures and dynamic market situations and to handle sustainability targets whereas remaining a dependable accomplice for patrons. By investing in these enhancements, the corporate confirms its dedication to delivering high-quality merchandise, assembly the market demand for aggressive choices, whereas proactively managing dangers, optimizing operational effectivity and lowering its environmental footprint by optimizing vitality consumption.
Let’s take a peek behind the doorways of the UK manufacturing plant!
How is selenized yeast produced? Producing high-quality, concentrated, selenized yeast is the fruit of correct yeast pressure choice, particular course of growth and strict high quality management. Particularly chosen yeast strains can convert important quantities of inorganic selenium to round 100 completely different natural selenium compounds (similar to selenomethionine and selenocysteine). Because of their particular person genetic make-up, every yeast pressure will carry its personal profile when it comes to precise composition in natural selenium compounds. Concerning the manufacturing of Lallemand’s selenized yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCYC R397, ALKOSEL), a selected manufacturing course of has been developed and is continually optimized to make sure optimum and constant high quality of the product.
ALKOSEL is produced by fed-batch tradition: vitamins, together with selenium, are provided incrementally to the rising cells.
“The essential half is so as to add the correct quantity of selenium on the proper time. Including too little ends in a low focus of natural selenium within the ultimate product, whereas including an excessive amount of will inhibit the expansion of the yeast”, explains Elsa Parmentier, R&D Mission Supervisor at Lallemand Animal Diet
As soon as the yeast has reached its optimum development, it’s rigorously washed and harvested by centrifugation and the selenium enriched yeast cream is additional processed to inactivate the yeast cells and dried in a drum dryer.
Strategic investments driving eco-friendly enhancements
Andre Zigani, Operations and Plant Director at Lallemand Felixstowe, explains: “Drying of the yeast cream is without doubt one of the highest vitality consuming phases of the entire course of and, over the previous years, we now have made important investments to scale back this value and streamline our total manufacturing course of. In 2023, we now have invested in a brand new drying know-how, permitting us to make sure extra vitality environment friendly course of (practically 40% discount on electrical energy).”
He provides: “We’re producing our personal vitality on-site! Mixed warmth and energy ship 100% of plant electrical energy, 25% of steam and 10% of sizzling water necessities. Additionally, new blowers have allowed us to scale back vitality consumption in air provide for fermentation by 30%. Regarding water administration, we put in in 2017 a reverse osmosis (RO) answer that diminished plant potable water consumption by 35%. This has financial impression because it permits us to optimize manufacturing prices and to scale back our environmental footprint. Keep tuned as a result of we’re additionally at present investing within the discount of our gasoline consumption by 50%, by the top of 2025!”
The Felixstowe plant, along with different selenized yeast manufacturing websites in North America and Europe, supply an excellent flexibility and agility in responding to evolving market calls for. This strategic setup enhances provide chain stability, reinforcing client confidence and sustaining constant availability of products even in difficult circumstances.
Matthieu Baulez, Lallemand Animal Diet Product Administration and Provide Chain Director, says: “We have now strengthened our provide chain relationships and diversified our uncooked materials sourcing methods to reinforce resilience in opposition to disruptions and decrease dependencies on single suppliers or areas. This proactive method ensures continuity of provide and minimizes the potential impression of exterior disruptions on our operations.”
Domestically engaged manufacturing web site
“I’m happy with the optimistic societal and environmental impression the brand new investments have generated because it allowed us to scale back the plant’s environmental footprint and to develop our workforce and drive extra native employment. Meet our passionate workforce in Felixstowe!”, provides Zigani.
Shireen Moodley, High quality Supervisor at Lallemand Felixstowe, provides: “I joined the Felixstowe workforce in 2021. Previous to that, I used to be working at a Lallemand yeast plant in Durban, South Africa. I’ve lots of expertise in fermentation from completely different views, similar to R&D, industrial microbiology, course of and high quality. There are such a lot of points to my job, there isn’t a monotony, it modifications on a regular basis! With one thing new, just like the drum dryer commissioning final 12 months, there’s at all times that pleasure, and the drive to make it work. Now, we’re working nicely. We had not too long ago the FAMI-QS Audit, and the auditor was proud of our new set up and our documentation to assist it. The workforce right here is pleasant and really useful and it helped me rather a lot contemplating I got here alone from South Africa. It is extremely good as a result of I do know I can depend on lots of people right here.”
“I began at Lallemand, 3.5 years in the past, I like planning. It entails working with all of the departments from fermentation to drying and packaging. Day by day is a unique problem. You come within the morning and ask your self ‘how do I remedy this at present?’ and it is advisable readjust all the pieces, finetune virtually every day. Placing collectively this large jigsaw puzzle, ensuring all the pieces is transferring because it ought to. I very a lot get pleasure from working with this superb workforce! All people is so open and supportive”, tells Marina Final, Manufacturing Planner at Lallemand Felixstowe.
Lastly, Eric Legget, Operation Supervisor at Lallemand Felixstowe, concludes by saying: “I’ve been within the meals trade for 32 years, I’ve labored in baking, dairy, meat and taste factories. I joined Lallemand 14 months in the past to arrange the brand new yeast drying line. I went to our plant in Estonia for a coaching on yeast drying processes earlier than the preliminary operation of the dryer line right here in Felixstowe. I managed its commissioning, new recruitments and the coaching of the workforce. We have now now been working the road for 12 months, and we now have had few points to unravel. It’s performing extraordinarily nicely. Coming to Lallemand was an excellent resolution for me. I like what we do right here. The workforce spirit is nice, it retains us going!”
