Angel Yeast inaugurates smart factory for digitalized and automated ingredient manufacturing

12 Apr 2022 --- Global yeast and yeast extract manufacturer Angel Yeast is opening a new factory for food ingredient manufacturing. The factory will include a smart mixed production line, enabling automated operation, improved quality control, increased productivity and improved energy efficiency.

“Food ingredients are at the forefront of our investment as one of Angel’s five major business focuses. The smart factory will further advance our manufacturing capability and grant Angel ‘Industry 4.0’ expertise to drive new business models and boost quality, productivity and sustainability,” says Xiao Minghua, general manager, Angel.

“Angel has cemented its leadership in China and beyond with its dry yeast business. Meanwhile, more than half of fermented foods in China use Angel’s yeast. Angel’s dough improvers enhance the quality of and prolong the shelf life of fermented food products each year, significantly reducing food waste.”

“The company has also set up an e-store where customers can easily purchase Angel’s food ingredients,” adds Minghua.

Technologically advanced factory
Angel’s smart factory is part of the company’s most recent effort to improve its manufacturing process and product offerings for customers worldwide. Angel will be able to deliver natural, environmentally friendly and nutrient-dense raw materials for baked foods and pastries.

Angel Yeast’s smart factory for food ingredients will manufacture yeast-based products and food ingredients.The new facility includes a packaging workshop with the most up-to-date automated high-speed packaging equipment, capable of producing 65 packs per minute, significantly enhancing single-machine production capacity.

Both destacking robots and railed guided vehicles can operate autonomously, lowering labor strain while significantly increasing efficiency and production.

Using the smart manufacturing system (MES), production line distributed control system (DCS) and smart, automated warehousing facilities, the factory digitalizes and automates the entire manufacturing process, from storing raw materials to the packing, sealing and transportation of final products.

Angel has produced a variety of standardized and customized baking ingredients and solutions, including baker’s yeast, bread improvers, leavening agents and ready-mixed products, to name a few.

The company recently increased its investment in R&D hubs and technology centers for bakery products around the world in search of new technologies that will expand the global food sector’s possibilities.

Acquisitions and certifications
Among other latest business developments, Angel Yeast was named a “Green Factory” by China’s Industry and Information Technology Ministry for its solar energy use and circular advancements.

The company also improved its position in North America with non-GMO certification for its 22 yeast products. Last September, Angel Yeast optimized its manufacturing capacity with the acquisition of Shandong Bio Sunkeen’s yeast-related assets for RMB100 million (US$15.4 million).

Edited by Nicole Kerr