MechChem Africa January-February 2024

⎪ Products and industry news ⎪

GEMÜ taps into meat market

Africa. “There is an installed base of Wacker Neuson machines on the island and these customers, plus of course all new customers, can now count on direct professional support for their machines from the Yellow Metal Machine Rental team.” Alcock was looking to open a busi ness in another country to mirror the suc cess of his road construction company in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. While attending board meetings in Mauritius on behalf of his business venture in West Africa, he saw potential for machine rent als and sales, especially in the construc tion sector, and gained an understanding components and the right expertise. GEMÜ offers suitable solutions for both aseptic and non-aseptic areas. Diaphragm valves (e.g. GEMÜ 650, GEMÜ 653, GEMÜ 687) and diaphragm globe valves (e.g. GEMÜ 657, GEMÜ F40) are routinely used for demanding, aseptic process steps such as inoculating the bio reactor or transferring the cells between the bioreactors. Drainage-optimised tank bottom valves that are based on the dia phragm valve principle guarantee aseptic cell harvesting with minimal product loss. For the laboratory phase in the cul tivated meat sector, customised and individually tailored single-use solutions guarantee the necessary process reliabil ity and flexibility. Auxiliary processes in which the media does not encounter any surfaces that come into contact with the product are classed as non-aseptic applications and play a key role at GEMÜ. Thanks to the extensive product range, globe valves (e.g. GEMÜ 550, GEMÜ 554), butterfly valves

“When it comes to quality products, parts availability, and technical support, the Wacker Neuson brand is hands down the best, with service that is second to none,” says Dave Alcock, Managing Director of Yellow Metal Machine Rental Ltd., the newly appointed Wacker Neuson dealer in Mauritius. “Wacker Neuson is therefore the perfect premium brand to represent us in Mauritius.” “We are extremely excited to explore the new market that Mauritius presents to us through our partnership with Dave and his team,” says Dennis Vietze, Managing Director of Wacker Neuson Sub-Saharan With a suitable product range, GEMÜ is a reliable and competent partner for manufacturing cultivated meat. The pro duction of cultivated meat is based on known biotechnological processes that are identical to those used in other large scale applications for cell culture technol ogy. For this future market, GEMÜ offers complete valves, as well as measurement and control systems, from a single source. GEMÜ, thanks to its expertise, is be coming a competent partner for manufac turers of cultivated meat. As with other large-scale cell culture applications – such as antibody therapeutics – one or more bioreactors that form the heart of the sys tem are used in the production. Auxiliary processes such as water treatment, filtra tion, heating and cooling systems are also required. As one of the world's leading suppliers of valves and control systems for the phar maceutical, biotechnology and foodstuff industries, GEMÜ can optimally support these processes with the appropriate

of the island’s unique business culture. He opened his Mauritian machine rental business in 2018. The robust construction industry in Mauritius is fuelled primarily by finan cial services and tourism demand. The constant arrival of people from various corners of the globe seeking business opportunities and retirement options has further catalysed the expansion of residential projects and subsequent in frastructure development on the island. “Mauritius is not without its challenges and it’s not easy to enter this market,” concedes Dave. He explains that you must earn your customers’ respect and trust by providing added value. “The best way to build a solid reputation of trust is by sup plying superior quality, world-class prod ucts and excellent after-market support“. From offices in the industrial zone of Geoffroy in the Bambous District, Dave Alcock and his team can service customers across the entire island, with the furthest located areas only an hour away. A few Wacker Neuson machines in the Seychelles are also incorporated into Yellow Metal’s Mauritius operation. Once the Wacker Neuson brand is well established, the plan is to see how these customers can also be supported there from Mauritius. www.wackerneuson.co.za "In combination with expandable auto mation components, our valves are techni cally well positioned to support and drive forward the new cultivated meat market, from the laboratory phase through to commercial production," says Tibor Tot, Business Development Manager in the Business Unit Pharma, Food & Biotech. www.gemu-group.com (e.g. GEMÜ R480, GEMÜ R490) or ball valves (e.g. GEMÜ B22, GEMÜ 24) can be used for this purpose.

New dealership brings Wacker Neuson equipment to Mauritius

Dave Alcock with Yellow Metal Machine Rental Ltd technician, Siris Apajee (left in pic) and Senior Operator Pascal Manique.

36 ¦ MechChem Africa • January-February 2024