MechChem Africa November-December 2022

⎪ Products and industry news ⎪

Biocatalysis: a green production method for aroma and flavour

odour impact molecule finds a wide range of food flavouring applications within a growing market demand. “The availabil ity of a national industrial biocatalysis facility is most attractive. CSIR scientific know-how complements that of Puris and, thereby, larger and more complex projects can be tackled. In addition, CSIR pi lot plant facilities with experienced operators are invaluable – something that small, me dium and micro enterprises mostly cannot afford,” says Niemand. “We are looking forward to supporting many more industry players in improving their product manufacturing processes,” says Dr Lucia Steenkamp, IBH Programme Manager and CSIR principal researcher. www.csir.co.za

CSIR researchers and their industry coun terparts are pooling their efforts to use biocatalysis – a green production method – to help develop new and improved pro duction processes and products for the cosmetic, biopharmaceutical and indus trial biologics markets. Puris Natural Aroma Chemicals, one of the companies that was able to access the expertise and specialised facilities for technical product and process support through South Africa’s first Industrial Biocatalysis Hub (IBH) – which is hosted at the CSIR – will soon be able to implement a high-value niche fragrance technology because of this collaborative effort. “The biocatalyt ic appl icat ion of an ancient recipe to produce a valuable

fragrance ingredient i s making great str ides . The propr ietary intel lectua l property of the CSIR used in this process shows much promise. This sought-after fragrance ingredient will also create op portunities for agricultural production of plant material,” says Dr Gerhard Niemand, Execut ive Chai rman of Pur i s Natural Aroma Chemicals. Additionally, Puris recently developed a product called Caramel furanone, also known as Sotolon. This natural aroma compound, which usually smells like curry at high concentrations, and maple syrup, caramel or burnt sugar at lower concen trations, was optimised by the IBH team and is now in full-scale commercial pro duction. According to Niemand, the high

HAWCape Town expansion The Cape Town Branch of Hydraulic & Automat ion Warehouse’ s (HAW) has relocated to premises in Milner Street, Paarden Eiland, Cape Town. The move, a result of a growing customer base and massive increase in sales, sees this HAW branch now occupying 1 280 m 2 of space in the Mother City. It is now better po sitioned to meet the increased product and service demands experienced from its expanding customer base.

fectly positioned to retain more stock than before which, in turn, enables us to meet the demands of even more customers. The size of the premises not only increases brand visibility but also positions us to bring in new product ranges, increasing our footprint in the Western Cape.” www.boschrexroth.africa

hydraulic equipment,” Marx points out. The branch also has an area dedicated to its mobile division where HAW stocks a complete range of mobile products such as hydraulic motors, gear pumps, control valves, and power pack components. “The new building is more than double the size of the old building, meaning we are per

The new offices feature a main sales of f ice; a counter sales of f ice; a hose department; a large warehouse; and a mobile workshop area. “The main sales department, the heart of the company, is manned by six sales personnel – three internal and three external – to help with all customers’ hydraulic requirements,” says HAW Cape Town branch manager, Zane Marx. “Our counter sales offices are designed speci f ical ly to aid walk- in customers. Our hose depar tment enab l es us to tailor hoses to customer specifications, and our large warehouse area is used for bulk stock, which ensures we have everything that we and our customers need for repairs or replacement to their

Hydraulic & Automation Warehouse’s new premises in Milner Street, Paarden Eiland, Cape Town.

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