43 www.drivesncontrols.com September 2025 FOOD AND BEVERAGE n are able to put a wider variety of plant-based meat on everyone’s table, but also, the cost of our products will be close to current animal meats.” The equipment needed to automate DST’s production processes has been supplied by Routeco Netherlands. “Sheartex is a continuous process,”explains Routeco sales engineer, Clint op den Buijsch. “Although this means DST can create a more realistic meat alternative in terms of texture and flavour, it does require very precise control of the mixing and microdosing, which is why Sobatech and DST opted for a solution driven by Allen-Bradley Kinetix servomotors. “The microdosing of the ingredients in the continuous process can only be achieved with servomotors, as it is crucial to keep the tare weight of the dosing hopper as low as possible,” he adds. “The servo-controlled dosing hoppers must achieve a dosing accuracy of within 1% when dispensing what can be expensive and strong-flavoured micro-powders.” The motors are part of a suite of Rockwell control and monitoring technologies that DST is using, including a PowerMonitor 5000 energy-monitoring system, GuardLogix safety controllers, Power-Flex 527 variablespeed drives, and Studio 5000 design software. A DLR (device-level ring) network topology reduces the need for cabling which, combined with the drives’ Safe Torque Off function, can halve installation times. “Another critical aspect of the DST process is the amount of mechanical energy applied to achieve the desired texture,” explains Sobatech’s managing director, Geneviève Lekner. “This energy value has a correlation with the quality of the final product. Energy monitoring solutions from Rockwell are particularly well-suited for capturing and analysing this critical data, providing valuable insights that enable the optimisation and control of production processes.” DST’s Sheartex process represents a major advance in plant-based meat production. By improving texture, lowering costs, and enhancing production efficiency, it is helping to make plant-based proteins a more viable alternative to animal meat. n DST co-founder, Julian Lekner: we’re putting a wider variety of plant-based meats on everyone’s table pot en ti a l o f y o Are you inve our workforce? esting in the mproves Comp Creates an Adaptable a ncreases Productivi mproves Safe W Industry recognised co I I a I any Reputation nd Flexible Workforce y and Performance orking Practices ourses from the BFPA W t a p Please call 01608 6479 00 or bfpa.co.u RITISH FLUID POW B email enquiries@bfpa.co.uk k/training WER ASSOCIATION /
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