Lyckeby chose ABB's 800xA for its delicate and un conventional protein production.
First of its kind protein production in Sweden
Lyckeby Starch in Kristianstad Sweden extracts proteins as a bi-product in the conventional production of starch and fiber.
It is the first of its kind in Sweden, the protein from starch being used in animal feed, and it is effectively run using the ABB
800xA control system.
The raw material for the production of starch at Lyckeby Starch’s factory is potato. “Operations are dictated by the harvest. Because of this we are what is known as a campaign industry,” says Lars-Åke Åkerlund, who is responsible for electrical and automation aspects at the company.
In 2010 the building of a process plant was begun to enable the handling of a greater amount of raw material and thus the production of 1 600 tonne protein per year. “The concept comes from other parts of Europe where similar plants are in operation,” says Lars-Åke Åkerlund. “It means that value is added by getting more out of the raw material. The protein is principally used in cattle and pig food.”
Integrated DCS fits plant needs
“It was beneficial to start from scratch rather than try to add to the old system. At the end of the season we could evaluate it. Doing this in a working process is of course much more difficult. We also want to prepare for a centralization of operations, through which our four production units will become three.”
The decision on the system for the new plant was taken in two stages:
“The first stage was to decide on the type of system that was most suitable,” says Anders Collijn. “In the past we have mainly used PLC-Scada; we compiled a requirement specification and discovered that a DCS system best suited our needs, partially by being more effective from an engineering perspective. It is also an integrated system.”
The second stage was choice of supplier - ABB. “There are several reasons for this,” says Lars-Åke Åkerlund. “Price was one, of course, but also the fact that in response to our questions, we were efficiently provided with all the information we needed to base a decision on.”