Thailand’s Chok Yuenyong (CYY) group has been producing and exporting premium-quality tapioca/cassava starch for more than 30 years, and they partly owe their success to existing partnership with Alfa Laval, Swedish-based supplier of wide range of industrial solutions.
Recently, the relationship has been further boosted with the introduction of a service agreement with connected services on 10 of Alfa Laval’s NX944 decanters at CYY production sites across the country, as well as an order for 6 more of their newer NX6450 (Foodec 65) decanters.
This fleet of machines are the beating heart of the tapioca/cassava production process – when they stop, production can be adversely affected – so the peace of mind that the ground-breaking agreement brings will help keep CYY at the top of their game.
Pravin Sonawane, Global Sales, Connected Services, BU Decanters Service, Alfa Laval said, “Adding the connected services element to the agreement brings huge benefits for CYY, both in terms of profitability and sustainability.”
The decanters are continually monitored, providing proactive support and a complete framework for the entire 12-month cycle, with the customer closely engaged through the different service levels. The monitoring takes the form of sensors mounted on different parts of the decanter that allow Alfa Laval experts to monitor remotely and employ proactive maintenance, stepping in to prevent any operational issues before they happen; optimizing uptime and maximizing equipment reliability.
Remote support also means fewer site visits and, therefore, a lower carbon footprint. For CYY, who power their operations through a biogas generator fed by its own processing waste, sustainability is always an important factor.
This is the latest milestone in a long and productive relationship between Alfa Laval and CYY, involving a fleet of decanters that have been fundamental to the success of their operations. It began with the supply of NX944 decanters – some of which have been in operation for more than a decade – and is now focusing on the latest NX6540 (Foodec 65) decanters, six of which have been installed at various sites as equipment upgrades and at new installations.
Alfa Laval’s technological contribution to CYY is vital as CYY is one of the biggest starch producers in Thailand, processing around 200,000 tonnes of cassava roots per year into the form of native starch known as tapioca or cassava. CYY production comprises approximately 15% of Thailand’s overall annual production of 1.5 million tonnes of native starch processed by more than 80 starch producers in the country.
