Mount Meru, Alfa Laval & RONO Develop Zambia Fat Processing Plant

Mount Meru Group has established an integrated margarine and shortening production facility in Zambia in collaboration with Alfa Laval and German food processing technology company RONO. The Katuba-based plant is designed to support regional food processing capacity through automated yellow fat production systems for plant-based food applications.

The facility combines emulsification, thermal processing, fluid handling, and process automation technologies to produce margarine and shortening products for food manufacturing and consumer markets across Southern Africa.

Integrated Food Processing Infrastructure
Mount Meru Group developed the facility to expand regional edible fat processing capacity while improving operational efficiency and resource utilization within the food production chain.

RONO supplied the core high-pressure processing technology used in the production line, while Alfa Laval delivered tanks, pumps, plate heat exchangers, utility systems, and process control infrastructure for fat and water preparation stages.

The project required integration between upstream ingredient preparation systems and downstream emulsification, pasteurization, and crystallization processes to maintain stable product consistency and production reliability.

Emulsification and Thermal Processing Systems
The production process is based on controlled emulsification technology used to create stable fat-water mixtures required for margarine and shortening manufacturing.

During processing, oils and fats are blended with emulsifiers before introduction of the water phase. High-shear mixing systems generate a fine emulsion structure that influences product texture, stability, and plasticity.

Integrated buffering systems and controlled transfer infrastructure maintain stable material flow throughout the production line prior to pasteurization and crystallization stages.

Alfa Laval’s plate heat exchangers and fluid handling systems support temperature control and process stability during preparation and transfer operations. The automation architecture also enables coordinated process control across multiple production stages.

Flexible and Scalable Production Capacity
The facility was designed to support scalable production growth while maintaining operational reliability and low maintenance requirements.

According to the project details, the processing setup also supports improved utilization of palm oil by-products within the production chain, reducing material waste and increasing resource efficiency.

The modular production infrastructure enables adaptation to changing production volumes and future processing requirements within the regional food manufacturing sector.

Food Security and Regional Processing Capacity
The project reflects increasing investment in local food processing infrastructure across Southern Africa, particularly systems designed to reduce dependence on imported processed food products.

By expanding regional yellow fat production capacity, the facility is intended to support food manufacturing supply chains while improving availability of plant-based food ingredients within local and regional markets.

The deployment also demonstrates how integrated industrial automation and hygienic food processing systems can be applied to scalable food manufacturing operations in emerging industrial markets.

Edited by Natania Lyngdoh, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.

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