Bühler Insect Technology Solutions, a pioneering provider of integrated solutions for insect rearing and processing, is combining its strengths with Alfa Laval, a leader in heat transfer, separation and fluid handling. Together, they will offer advanced modular insect plant solutions to the booming insect industry.

Rising costs of proteins, potential health and growth benefits of insect-based ingredients for animals and an increased focus on sustainability are strong drivers for the emerging insect industry. As a result, the sector has reported over US$300 million of investments in 2018 alone. To leverage this booming sector, the two companies have been cooperating since early 2018 with the objective of combining their strengths to provide efficient, integrated production plants.

Andreas Aepli, CEO, Bühler Insect Technology Solutions, and Sumit Pingle, VP, agro & protein systems, Alfa Laval, have signed the exclusive partnership. Aepli says: “In Alfa Laval we are proud to have found a partner who shares our approach and vision in this exciting new industry. Thanks to this collaboration, we can further increase the efficiency and reliability of our solutions, setting high standards for the industry right from the start.” Pingle adds: “With the combined offering, we are in a unique position to provide the best insect processing solution in the market with unmatched product quality and safety.”

The two companies aim to leverage each company’s technology capabilities, engineering know-how and market access. They have jointly developed tailored solutions for heat transfer, solid and lipid separation, and fluid transfer that can be integrated seamlessly into modular insect plant solutions. Thanks to the joint expertise, these highly flexible solutions allow insect producers to easily ramp up production as demand increases. The products will be offered exclusively through Bühler Insect Technology Solutions.

The two companies will also cooperate on further research and development, marketing and after-sales services. Nish Patel, president, Alfa Laval’s food & water division, says: “We are looking forward to bringing our expertise from other applications to this dynamic new market. The collaboration with Bühler allows us to combine our proven technology with a complete, integrated solution – and serve the customers better than either of us could on our own.” Dieter Voegtli, president of the Global Sales and Service Organization at Bühler Group, adds: “We are convinced that insects will play an important role in making our food system more sustainable. With installation works for the first industrial-scale insect plant in Europe nearing completion, we will soon have an operating proof point of the viability of our insect process technology in an industrial setting.”