Once the decision to transform the shell eggs is taken, a new scenario opens up for companies that only have experience in producing, packing and grading shell eggs.
Indeed, the step from shell to liquid looks simple but it is not. It implies a complete mindset and attitude change for company, from being a mere ‘producer’ to transforming into a ‘processor’. In other words they have to move from ‘farm’ to ‘factory’, from agriculture to industry.
1 - The first factor is the size of the plant - bigger does not always mean better.
The plant should have a correct size for the ‘current’ situation. Future expansion should be in the form of extending the production to a second and third shift. Only after this phase should the company consider installing a larger production line.
It makes sense to start with a plant that is installed on compact bed frames which are just placed in the room and connected with cables and pipes. The advantage of a skid-frame solution does not only offer great benefits in production (less waste of water and chemicals, faster warm up, less product waste from start to end of the process, less space required in the factory) but it also allows a quick switch to a bigger unit when the market demand increases.
A compact line can be easily removed and easily traded because it is a one piece, plug and play system, a working unit which can easily satisfy the needs of many other investors looking for the same solution at start-up.
When evaluating the size of the plant, it is advisable to look at the market more than at the internal egg capacity. Of course making sales projections in a market which is new is not that easy and requires a host of marketing and survey skills. If the internal egg production does not seem to be enough to serve market demand, it will be quite easy to source some extra eggs externally.
The minimum economical batch is also a parameter which cannot be underestimated and it is important especially at the start-up of the new plant.
Several liquid egg processors have run into serious financial problems because they failed to produce good quality products. This is a typical problem. It is not related to the bad engineering of the plant but simply to the small production size. To ensure quality, there is a basic optimum quantum required for production.
Modern egg pasteurisation is a continuous flow process with a start-up time, warm up time and production ‘tail’ of product mixed with water at the end of the batch. It is safe to consider a minimum workable batch of three or four hours non-stop production. If the market at the start-up is small, avoid investing in a line that is able to process the needed batch in only one or two hours.
2 - The second point to consider is the range of products in your portfolio.
If the market is unknown, the best alternative is to invest in a fully flexible line which allows production of a number of egg products including separated eggs and with salt or sugar mixes.
Normally the most common and simple product to offer to the market is liquid whole egg. But later as customers become loyal to the brand and the service, they are likely to explore more specific preparations and mixes to improve their recipes or processes.
Special products such as yolk with sugar or whole egg with salt require longer time for preparation but they have the highest premium prices. It is also important to keep in mind that if a potential market is found for yolk products, then automatically the company must be able to sell the albumen. That is because for every 1kg of yolk, there is about 2 kg of available albumen.
3 - The last and most difficult choice is the packing system.
All efforts to produce a state-of- the art liquid egg product with good functional properties and the safest microbiological parameters will be wasted if the packaging does not appeal to customers.
So, before choosing the packing system, it is important to conduct a market survey, contact key prospective customers and evaluate their views of different types of packaging.
The market test must consider parameters like pack content, flexibility of pack size, pack material, pack closure, and look. If this survey does not bring any clear results, it is much safer to start-up with a simple filling system which requires a minimum investment.
It is wise to leave the serious (and expensive) decisions on investment in the packing machine for a better moment when the ideas are clearer.
In case the choice of the best pack has already been made, then the decision maker can select from a variety of filling and packing machines. There are thousands of different technologies, models, solutions and companies offering a variety of options with varying degrees of functionality and flexibility.
How to move in such a well built labyrinth? Always think simple and consider how different liquid egg from any other edible liquid. Egg is viscous and contains fats and makes foam, and it coaugulates at 66°C. It is subject to the highest bacterial load when left in contact with air.
Moreover egg composition is subject to change because it is affected by the breed, the feed type and the age of the bird. No other industrial product shows such significant variances. So, study the system before making the investment.
Packing is the most important and delicate phase of the process, if you don’t want to spoil your efforts and gain the best returns from good quality liquid egg products, only trust suppliers with real experience and with specific machines engineered for the purpose.