PLANT BASED DAIRY ALTERNATIVES 2022
The Stephan Principle
According to the Stephan principle of our Universal
Machine (UM), the process takes place in only one vessel.
After water dosing, powder components, fats and
oils can be dosed directly into the bowl. Mechanical
energy is introduced into the product by the frequency
controlled main motor, which is directly connected
via the motor shaft to the working tool, which is adapted
to the process. The ingredients are dispersed and
emulsified at ranges of 300 - 3,600 rpm (depending
on the recipe) with different tools according to the requirements.
Due to the special geometry of the working
tools, the agitator, the vessel, as well as the slight
tilting of the vessel, products will be ideally mixed in
the so-called "cross-mixing" process and circulates in
the vessel. Direct steam can be injected into the turbulent
mixing, which aids in development and pasteurizes
the ingredients. Highly viscous products, such as the
vegan cheese substitutes mentioned above, can be
heated gently and economically without off-flavor or
color change. If required, heating can also be carried
out indirectly via the jacket of the vessel. The entire
process is carried out under vacuum, which has a positive
effect on gloss and structure and at the same time
avoids unwanted bubbles in the product.
Schematic illustration of the
mixing effect in the tank of the
Stephan Universal Machine
High Viscosity as a Challenge: No Problem
for the Stephan Universal Machine
After development of the starch, the cheese substitutes
exhibit high to very high viscosity over the entire
temperature range, which must be handled. This
is because, depending on the recipe, the product is no
longer free-flowing. These high viscosities pose challenges
for discharge, which can be easily mastered
with the tiltable process vessel of the Stephan universal
machine. The Universal Machine is available in
sizes from 5 to 200 liters. With our 5 L and 24 L models,
product and process development can be easily
mapped. Scaling up to production plants with batch
sizes of up to 170 liters is conceivably simple and the
next logical step.
Stephan Universal Machine UM 200
January/February 2022 ¦ international-dairy.com · 27
/international-dairy.com
