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Palsgaard has started work on an €18 million expansion at its Netherlands factory, set to double its polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) emulsifier production capabilities. PGPR is a plant-based co-emulsifier primarily used in the production of chocolate to control flow, reduce viscosity and optimise moulding and enrobing. It can also be used to reduce fat content in margarine spreads and act as a colour-dispersing aid to replace petrol-based waxes in plastics. According to Palsgaard, the work is expected to be completed in 2024 and will double the company’s global capacity to produce PGPR. The extension includes 1500 square meters of solar panels along with three new reactors and a downstream processing line. Palsgaard Netherland’s site director, Joris Dhont, said: “As well as almost doubling our PGPR capacity to 11500 metric tonnes annually, this expansion will substantially increase storage capacity for raw materials and finished goods, which will secure business continuity in times of supply chain disruptions”. The company is also investing €125 million in its main production site in Denmark where it is installing a 30,000-metric-tonne spray cooling tower. Palsgaard says that the Denmark facility will be supported by the construction of new reaction, distillation and esterification plants and will also double its production capacity by 2024.