Significant growth forecast for the food and beverage industry

7th December 2016

Significant growth forecast for the food and beverage industry

Growth prospects for the food and beverage industry in South Africa remain positive, according to Verder South Africa, which supplies Packo pumps to applications from breweries and wineries to dairies. The Food Processing Machinery and Packaging Machinery Association of the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) reports a 13% growth rate in the overall beverage sector over the next few years.

VDMA is the organiser of the high-level conference at drinktec, the world’s leading trade fair in the beverage and liquid food industry. The third offset of drinktec, the biennial food & drink technology Africa, was recently held in Johannesburg.

In the case of non-alcoholic beverages, VDMA reports that growth could be as high as 19%, and 29% for juices, 25% for bottled water, 51% for concentrates, and 35% for sport and energy drinks. The alcoholic beverage market is anticipated to grow by 6% over the same period.

Prospects for the food and beverage industry remain positive due to rapid urbanisation and a growing middle class. In addition, consumer behaviour is changing, with baked goods and confectionery gaining popularity. This points to a double-digit increase in per capita consumption over the next few years, according to the VDMA.
A significant increase in demand for convenience products, and a growing health awareness, reveals that the South African food and beverage industry is in the midst of a transition. However, the industry is faced with certain challenges, especially the fact that the production processes used are both energy- and water-intensive. Not only do the processes themselves require a great deal of water, but water is also needed to clean the plants and machinery.

Water shortages, electricity constraints, and the mooted carbon and sugar taxes will result in increased costs for manufacturers, who are looking increasingly to innovative technological solutions to help mitigate these rising costs.

Verder recently acquired distribution rights for the Packo pump range for the food and beverage industry. These perfectly cleanable process pumps are used in the most demanding hygienic applications, including filtration, pasteurisation, yeast propagation and CIP (Clean-In-Place) cleaning systems.

Kobus Fourie, pump specialist at Verder South Africa, explains that Packo multi-purpose pumps not only optimise production process in the food and beverage industry, but also increase factory capacity, drive cost reduction, ensure hygiene standards are complied with, comply with all relevant legislation, and are environment-friendly and energy-efficient.

Verder Packo pumps are available in capacities of up to 40 m3/hour, with the latest addition to the range boasting an astonishing flow rate of 1 200 m3/hour, driven by a 200 kW motor. This 1.6 t pump represents an extension of the current MCP3 and MFP3 range.

“Increasing production efficiencies, more efficient processes and ever-larger food factories are the main drivers for producing bigger food-grade pumps at high efficiency,” comments Fourie. This also forms part of the ongoing development of an ideal solution to handle shear-sensitive products such as mash, while reducing electricity consumption.