a very exciting collaboration with AMT.
Following successful results from their
commercial trials, manufacturers are
now accepting that the AMT machine is
a game-changing piece of technology
with companies transforming their
processing and reaping the rewards.”
Miriam continued: “In terms of the
Scottish and UK food market, one
of the most significant areas of this
collaboration is the potential that
AMT technology offers in terms of
developing healthy food products
which are produced in a more energy
efficient way. Unfortunately, Scotland
has a reputation for unhealthy foods
which are high in fat and sa lt. This
project has the potential to change
food processing for the better, and as
a result, assist in improving the image,
quality and health of Scottish food.”
Kim Gilchrist, Research Development
Manager at QMU, said: “We are
delighted to be assisting SMEs
such as AMT in novel research
projects. The potential impact in the
application of microwave technologies
to revolutionise the food and drink
industry is incredibly exciting.”
Kim continued: “In this challenging
economic climate, commercial
organisations, particularly SMEs,
need all the help they can get. Many
businesses seem unaware that world
class expertise, knowledge and
research facilities are available within
Scotland's universities. In line with the
Scottish government agendas, QMU
is totally committed to supporting the
development of Scotland’s food and
drink. Within our flagships of ‘health
and rehabilitation’ and ‘sustainable
business’ we have access to
experts in food, nutrition, biological
science, business development and
marketing. In addition, we can offer
specialist laboratories for testing and
importantly, we have knowledge and
access to funding for commercial
development. Businesses, both large
and small, need to make the most of
this resource, and we look forward
to further innovative collaborations
with other Scottish and national food
organisations.”
QMU welcomes enquiries from
organisations which may be interested
in a demonstration of the AMT
machine. If your business needs to
find a solution to a problem or needs
help with business development
please contact Miriam Smith,
Business Development Executive at
QMU’s Business Innovation Zone on
E: [email protected], T: 0131 474
0000. ❒
Microwave technology helps
‘Get Juiced’ double sales
Get Juiced, a small, forward thinking freshly squeezed juice and smoothie
business, knew it could produce fresh drinks of the highest quality but it
was struggling to identify a processing technology that could support an
increase in product demand and business growth. Its biggest obstacle
was the very limited shelf life of its fresh products. Its main product,
freshly squeezed orange juice, had a shelf life of only eight days.
T
his gave the company very little
room for manoeuvre with only
eight days to get it to retail, sell to
the end customer and have it consumed
before the product was past its best. As
a direct result of this problem, customers
were hard to secure. The company
tried various methods of processing
but this always resulted in a poorer
product with an inferior taste. In effect,
existing pasteurisation technologies
proved detrimental to the taste of the
fresh product. Integral to the company
was the need to retain the fresh quality
of the product, its superior taste (in
comparison to other orange juices)
as well as its colour and texture. The
company approached QMU and began
trials with AMT. The orange juice was
put through the AMT machine and to
the company’s amazement the product
tasted exactly the same.
The Business Relationship Manager at
Get Juiced said: “We just couldn’t believe
what we were seeing at QMU. When we
first saw the AMT machine in action, it was
pasteurising scrambled egg. Then, while
we were there, it quickly moved on to our
orange juice which it pasteurised in just a
matter of minutes. We sampled the juice
after it went through the machine, and were
astounded that it looked and tasted exactly
the same. In fact, the product tasted so
fresh, it was almost impossible to believe
that anything had been done to it. After
all our other failed attempts, we couldn’t
believe we had found such a simple
solution. The other advantage of the AMT
machine was that it could clearly handle
liquids and foods of different textures.
If it could pasteurise a substance like
scrambled egg and then quickly move to
a liquid like orange juice, it would be able
to handle all of our different fruit juices with
their varying consistencies.”
“If we had only known
that the answer to our
problems lay within
QMU, we would have
progressed things so
much earlier.”
Following research trials, Get Juiced
purchased an AMT machine for its factory
in Stirling. As soon as it was put into use,
production more than doubled overnight.
Get Juiced said: “With a new shelf life
of 28 days we had a flood of interest
from retail. People had always loved our
unprocessed freshly squeezed drinks but
earlier on, like all fresh juice drinks, demand
was limited by shelf life. Now the interest
in our freshly squeezed product with its
extended shelf life is overwhelming and we
have big expansion plans for 2013.”
During the summer of 2012 Get Juiced
was producing 2,000 litres of fresh juice
each week. Following installation of the
AMT machine the company’s production
levels has increased to 5,000 plus litres per
week.
Get Juiced said: “Our retail business was
fairly limited and the supermarket chains
simply were not interested in listing our
products with the smaller shelf-life but this
has now completely changed; so much so
we have doubled our staffing levels from
11 to 25 people to deal with the increased
production and product demand.”
Finding the right solution to its problem
has allowed Get Juiced to action major
expansion plans. Investment is imminent
for an even bigger AMT machine and whilst
there was always confidence that this
would be in the pipeline, Get Juiced did
not envisage just how quickly it would have
to be realised. The company has secured
a contract with a major supermarket to
supply all of its Scottish stores, and is soon
to supply the same retailer on a UK wide
basis.
Get Juiced said; “We always believed it
could happen and now it has. It all started
at QMU and we are eternally grateful that
we made the connection with the University
and AMT. It has helped us identify a great
balance between the use of cutting edge
technology and a simple quality product.
This combination is allowing us to stay true
to one of our core values – that of producing
the best 100% freshly squeezed fruit juice
in Scotland.”
It’s onwards and upwards for Get Juiced
as it progresses its aim o f being Scotland’s
market leader in the fresh fruit drinks
segment.
❒
QMYOU / Knowledge Exchange
17