New deodoriser cuts CO2 costs and brings flexibility to AAK International’s Hull site

As well as savings in energy and costs, the new equipment is enabling AAK to keep ahead of changing legislation while delivering greater flexibility in the products they are able to develop for their customers.  

The installation of the new E5b deodoriser in early 2018 was part of the business’s strategic move away from commoditisation of products and towards specialisation. Damian Taylor, AAK’s UK Finance Director, explains…  

“The deodoriser it replaced was designed for commodity-scale production and the technology had become dated.  By contrast, our new equipment enables us to make frequent changes between different components and ingredients, so we can focus on producing shorter runs of a wider range of products.  

“This is allowing us to provide our customers with a more responsive and agile service to help them meet an array of food industry challenges. For example, if a biscuit manufacturer needs several special trial products to support a move towards vegan diets, sugar or fat reduction, or a new product launch, we have the flexibility to make those products for them in small batches.  

“In short, this new technology not only enables us to cut carbon emissions and use less energy by operating more efficiently, but also helps us to support customer co-development initiatives more effectively. We now have more flexibility and improved performance to help customers meet ever-evolving and unpredictable challenges.  

“This is a win-win, for the customer and for us.”  

AAK International’s Hull site, on King George Dock, operates as one of the UK’s largest edible oil refineries. It produces value-adding ingredients and product solutions for many of the best-known brands in the chocolate and confectionery, bakery, dairy, special nutrition, foodservice and personal care sectors.