Customer story
Gpi Tanks delivers a 500 m³ stratification tank for sustainable cheese production
DOC Kaas: ‘The new tank stores energy that would otherwise be lost, making the production process more energy-efficient and contributing to our CO₂ reduction goals’.
DOC Kaas in Hoogeveen processes milk to produce high-quality cheeses and by-products, such as whey, for the food industry. Driven by its social responsibility and government regulations, the company was required to make its current production process more sustainable. To achieve this, a new 500 m³ stratification tank was needed, for which Gpi received a request.
Richard Roerink, project engineer at DOC Kaas, talks about how the project came about: ‘The government has established various rules and guidelines to encourage and oblige companies to contribute to the energy transition. DOC Kaas has set the goal of reducing CO₂ emissions by 40% in 2030 compared to 2015’. The dairy company therefore enlisted the help of Starcker, a collaboration between Flowfirm and Van Doren Engineers, who work together as one entity to provide integrated, multidisciplinary, and sustainable solutions for challenges in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Richard explains: ‘We already had the idea of storing energy to improve our processes. Starcker then developed this concept in detail, optimized it, and ultimately implemented it for us, enabling us to effectively achieve our goals.’
Choice of Gpi
Martijn Okken, project manager at Flowfirm, talks about the initial phase: ‘For us, Gpi is one of the parties supplying tanks for the various applications. During the tender process, which was started from Starcker, we approached several tank suppliers from Flowfirm, including Gpi.’ On the final choice, Martijn explains: ‘Our decision to choose Gpi was based on several factors: the completeness of the quotation, price, the proposed design and our positive experiences from previous projects’. Richard adds: ‘We finally agreed to award the contract to Gpi because we had a lot of confidence in their expertise and the quality they deliver’.
The assignment
Flowfirm placed the request for a 500 m3 stratification tank. During the current production process, the cold from the cheese milk and the heat from the whey are used to cool one process and heat the other. However, during the start and stop moments, this is not possible and ice water and hot water must be used. Using a stratification tank, the heat and cold generated during the production process can be stored. This ensures that no energy is lost. The tank works efficiently by storing heat (about 30 °C) at the top and cold (about 8 °C) at the bottom.
Made of 304L stainless steel and equipped with separate hot and cold water inlets and outlets, the tank acts as an energy buffer, alternately serving as a heat and cold buffer. Richard explains: ‘To prevent mixing of the water, the flow in the tank had to be minimal. To monitor the temperature limits of the hot and cold water, 16 easily accessible temperature transmitters (TT’s) were installed, accessed via a cage ladder and platforms.’
Transport and installation
The 27-metre-high tank was produced at Gpi’s production hall in Groot-Ammers and transported by ship via the Hoogeveen canal. At viaduct Alteveer, near Hoogeveen, the tank was lifted onto a truck and transported to DOC Kaas. Richard says: ‘The biggest challenge was in the planning, as we have two major stops per year and within this period the tank had to be delivered, installed, cleaned and put into operation. So the changeover from actual production had to happen during a major stop and this all went well’. In the end, two installers from Gpi completed the tank, all within schedule and agreement.
About the result and the cooperation
With the arrival of the new stratification tank, DOC Kaas needs to use less ice and hot water, allowing DOC Kaas to produce cheese more sustainably. Richard explains: ‘The new tank contributes to our goals of reducing CO₂ emissions. It is part of the overall puzzle we want to realise for more sustainable production.’
Project engineer Richard looks back very positively on this project: ‘Looking back on this project, I can only conclude that everything went extremely well. It is clear that Gpi has a professional approach; both the method and the systems used come across as extremely professional and well-organised. I am therefore very satisfied with the final result.’ About the entire collaboration, Martijn concludes: ‘From the design phase to the final installation of the tank, everything went entirely according to plan, with short lines of communication and excellent follow-up’.
