Dedert, a company dedicated to providing innovative drying and evaporation technologies since 1968, is partnering with Bridge2Food for the first time in an effort to reinforce its position in the plant-based industry. For this reason, Dedert exhibited at the Virtual Plant-Based Foods Value Chain, Americas, April 13 & 14 and shared a presentation entitled “Processing Plant-Based Proteins and Co-Products” by Sarah Al-Roubaie and Gregory See Hoye. Dedert’s VP Sales, Colin Crankshaw, shares some views on the industry and the company’s focus:

 What can you tell us about the content of Dedert´s presentation?

Sarah and Greg discuss how to process plant-based proteins and their co-products, including specific challenges and approaches related to drying and evaporation technologies for high-value functional proteins, fiber fractions, starch products, and soluble streams from plant-based sources. 

Dedert has provided process technology solutions for 50 years. How has the company managed to adapt itself to a changing market, particularly in plant-based proteins?

We like to focus on an application-based approach to understand specific customer requirements and meet their expectations.  Our Pilot Plant testing for R&D  allows for the innovation of customized solutions. In fact, our long history and experience in the food/starch industry have transferred well to the emerging plant processing market.

What are the main challenges that plant-based ingredient manufacturers currently face and how could those be tackled with Dedert’s help?

There remain a lot of unknowns in processing plant-based ingredients, depending on the application or functional properties needed from the specific products. For example, high-gel proteins can be sprayed dried with conventional technology, yet challenges exist which may create opportunities for an improved solution. Dedert can partner with ingredient manufacturers and the industry to find the optimal solution through testing and development. Further, new co-products are being developed which require a different approach to processing.

How does the pilot plant contribute to the company´s customer-focused approach?

The Pilot Plant allows Dedert to develop the optimal drying and evaporation solution and to validate operating parameters for scale-up and product functionality. We invite our clients to participate in our Pilot Plant so that they can be fully integrated into the solution development that successfully meets their goals. We recently installed high-definition cameras in our Pilot Plant to afford our customers with travel limitations the same participation benefits through remote streaming.   

 How do you see the future of plant protein processing?

We see constantly developing technologies that are more energy sustainable, which is in line with the driver of the growing trend to make protein supply more ecologically and environmentally friendly. Dedert can help drive this trend through our innovative solutions.

Watch Dedert´s presentation below: