BRAZIL — ADM, an American multinational food processing and commodities trading corporation, has inaugurated a new innovation center in Hortolândia, Brazil.
The Chicago-headquartered company said it invested US$4.7 million in the facility, its fifth such center worldwide.
ADM also operates innovation centers in Berlin and Heidelberg, Germany; Cranbury, NJ; and Shanghai.
The new facility includes equipment exclusive to the Brazilian market, including a UHT pasteurizer, the first spray dryer pilot and a hamburger molding machine.
Additional equipment includes a beverage carbonator, a complete line for ice cream production, and particle measurement machine.
Others include a texture measurement machine, a grill and griddle for fast-food chains, a spray dryer and a complete meat plant with a hamburger molding machine.
“This modern structure further consolidates our technical expertise and connects us with customers and partners to develop and present innovative solutions,” said Andréa Lunardini, leader of the technical area of ADM in Latin America.
ADM said the innovation center also features two meeting rooms, a corporate office, a product shelf-life study room, and an application laboratory.
Three application pilot plants, a botanical development pilot plant, an analysis laboratory, two flavor development laboratories, and culinary center with support structure are also located at the center.
Additionally, an auditorium to accommodate 30 people, a sensory evaluation laboratory with cabins and preparation structure, and a focus group room have been incorporated to further bolster the center’s capabilities.
The innovation center builds on ADM’s recent growth in Latin America that also includes the opening of the largest soy protein plant in the region.
The company has also made as several acquisitions in Latin America, including Yerbalatina and Flavor Infusion International.
Earlier, ADM unveiled its new line of PearlEdge proprietary white color solutions as an alternative to titanium dioxide (E171) which is currently being phased out due to safety concerns.
The solutions are derived from natural sources, including native corn starch, and delivers brilliant, stable and uniform white coloring for a variety of food and beverage applications.
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