SPX Flow helps cheese producers stop wasting the whey

Dairies around the world strive to maximise efficiencies and eliminate waste. For cheese processors, this means identifying appropriate methods for dealing with whey.

Historically, whey would be discarded by transporting it off-site to be dried by other companies, used as cattle feed or, in some cases, drained to an effluent treatment plant (ETP) or city municipality. These options would come with significant transport or disposal costs, negatively impacting the environment and operating margins.

SPX Flow has developed technologies that enable cheese processors to turn this by-product into a revenue stream by upgrading their facilities to produce whey powder, whey protein isolate powder, non-caking whey powder, non-caking permeate powder and lactose powder.

Recently, SPX Flow was awarded contracts to design and construct new plants in Lithuania to produce whey powder and non-caking permeate powder, as well as a high-yield lactose powder plant in France. This lactose plant can provide a 20% yield improvement compared to traditional processes, according to the company.

The lactose process requires specific knowledge of the heat and hold process to elongate evaporator runs, as well as key technology used in the crystallisation process. SPX Flow’s process delivers consistently high-quality, white-colour, free-flowing and heat-stable powders. It offers the opportunity to produce a larger output from a single process plant, resulting in operating margin improvements.

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