Products of the dairy and infant nutrition industry
Powder products from the dairy sector, especially powders for infant and baby food, place special demands on process technology. In addition to general mixing quality, the focus is particularly on the highly accurate distribution of tiny amounts of nutrients and functional ingredients. Vitamins, minerals, and other additives must be evenly distributed throughout the powder to reliably meet specifications. In industrial processing, dry powder products are used, which often differ significantly in particle size, density, and flow behavior. Many of the components used are sensitive or introduced in very small doses. Therefore, a mixing process that works reproducibly, ensures stable product properties, and maintains the particles in their size and structure is crucial. Typical powder products in this industry include: Powder for infant and baby food / SIP formulations (infant starter and follow-on milk powder), milk powder and instant dairy blends, nutrient and vitamin supplements, probiotics and sensitive additives, as well as low-allergen, hypoallergenic, and special dietary formulations.
Requirements for mixing and refining
When mixing dairy and infant formula powders, the precise, reproducible distribution of smallest dosing amounts is crucial. Even slight deviations can affect the nutrient profile and complicate batch release. Accordingly, the requirements for mixing accuracy and process stability are high.
At the same time, sensitive additives must be processed gently. Mechanical stresses, local overconcentrations, or segregation effects are to be avoided or excluded in order to maintain the functionality of the components used.
Another central aspect is the hygienic design of the systems. Especially in infant formula production, mixing systems must be designed to support safe cleaning, good accessibility, and controlled product changeover. The goal is a process management that ensures consistent quality and high product safety.
Typical process engineering requirements in this industry include: highly precise distribution of smallest active ingredient amounts, reproducible batch consistency, gentle processing of sensitive additives, hygienic system design, high residual emptying rates, good cleanability, as well as safe product and recipe changes.
amixon® solutions for Dairy / Milk Powder / Infant Formula
amixon® develops mixers, dryers, and reactors for powder processes with the highest requirements for precision, hygiene, and process safety. The selection of the mixer concept is based on product characteristics, target mixing quality, and the specific conditions of the application.
The amixon® KoneSlid® mixer (KS) has been developed for applications where the smallest amounts of nutrients and active ingredients in powder need to be distributed with high precision. The mixing concept is specifically designed for precision and hygienic execution.
The construction of the KS also supports a rapid and almost complete emptying, reducing product losses and enabling efficient product changes. At the same time, controlled emptying prevents powder demixing, contributing to ensuring consistent batch consistency.
The amixon® Vertical Two-Shaft Mixer (HM) is used when uniform mixing quality, short mixing times, and stable process control are required. It is suitable for applications where the utmost product protection is paramount and supports reproducible results across different fill levels.
Experiments in the amixon® Technical Center allow for the practical examination of mixing behavior, distribution accuracy, and process control with original products and for scaling up to industrial size. amixon® offers individually designed industrial mixers, dryers, and reactors for dry powder products for the dairy and infant formula industries, as well as process engineering development and experiments in the Technical Center.
If you want to design or further develop powder processes for milk powder or infant and baby food, we support you in the technical implementation - with a focus on highly precise nutrient distribution, hygienic design, and reproducible batch consistency. Talk to us about your recipes and your process engineering requirements. amixon® - Process technology for highly precise powder products.
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