Avure supplied the Kee group with a High Pressure Processing (HPP) machine and said HPP in Asia increased the potential of food exports worldwide.
Fresh & Safe Foodtech Co (KFS), established last year as part as the KEE Group, will offer HPP services on a contract basis from its facility in the Pingtung Export Processing Zone.
KFS installed its first high-production 350-Liter HPP system from Avure last month. The 107,600-square-foot Pingtung plant has room to add three more HPP systems as volume expands.
Small but developing market
Glenn Hewson, vice president of global marketing at Avure, told FoodProductionDaily.com HPP in Asia is a small but developing market.
“HPP is doing well because it is a technology that helps processors meet consumer demands for fresh, healthy, convenient, preservative free products and retailer demands for unique, fresh products but with long shelf life.
“There is a big expansion possibility opportunity in the market, so we are putting in the infrastructure early and the growth will come as the market expands.
“Asia has good raw material and the labour market is good and an increase in shelf life allows them to ship products all over the world."
Hewson explained why the partnership was beneficial to all parties.
“The shelf life function can be more of a marketing tool rather than just a reality to deal with.
“Contract service providers offer the ability for processors to take advantage of HPP without the capital equipment investment.
“Tollers can assist with new product trials, seasonal peaks for customers that own HPP equipment and/or provide long term HPP services.”
Global HPP outlook
Hewson said the US was the biggest HPP market, with Canada big for meat and Mexico for avocado-based products such as guacamole with potential in the Asian market focusing around internal consumption and export of tropical fruit and seafood.
KFS will hold a day-long workshop, site tour, and food tasting on 31 July.
Hewson added: “It will support start ups in HPP by allowing smaller companies without capital costs and larger companies can jump in as well.
“The discovery program helps expose food processors to HPP and the type of products it does work well with and the types it doesn’t and the business case of what the technology can do and the path to market.”