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APV, a manufacturing technology brand owned by SPX Flow, has introduced a new portable Combi Microparticulation (MP) pilot line designed to enhance functional whey protein innovation.

The pilot line is based at SPX’s Silkeborg Innovation Center in Denmark, where customers can either trial and refine their recipes on-site or rent the unit for fixed-term periods within their own plant.

Whey protein is a popular choice in food and beverage development, valued for its health benefits and versatility in formulations such as RTD coffees, desserts and fermented dairy products.

Flexible to the producer’s needs, SPX’s technology aims to deliver smoother, creamier and more functional whey protein development across a wide range of food and beverage product applications.

The company’s Combi design allows producers to test recipes using two APV microparticulation technologies, the LeanCreme and the Cavimaster, from one shared platform. This provides flexibility and efficiency in application trials.

At a flow rate of 150-litres per hour from the pilot line, customers can perform tests using limited product quantities while gathering valuable process data to guide full-scale production.

Thomas Leroy, global head of Innovation Centers at SPX Flow, said: “This innovation gives our customers a competitive edge. By offering two microparticulation methods in one pilot, we help producers accelerate formulation development, reduce waste during testing and tailor the particle size of whey proteins to different product applications.”